Percival Prentice

Manufacturers:
Percival Aircraft Ltd., Luton Airport, Luton, Bedfordshire. Sub-contractors: Blackburn Aircraft Ltd., Brough, Yorkshire

Power Plant:
One De Haviland Gipsy Queen 51 six cylinder inverted air cooled motor. Maximum level power: 270 h.p. at 2,400 r.p.m at 7,000 ft. Take off power 295 h.p. at 2500 r.p.m at sea level.

Construction:
Wings: All metal cantilever structure with two main spars built up with light alloy extruded flanges and reinforced plate webs. Light alloy pressed sheet ribs. No spanwise stringers except for wing roots to give strength to walkway. Metal ailerons with light alloy 'D' spar, pressed sheet ribs and fabric covering. Split training edge flaps in three sections, pneumatically operated. Two main fuel tanks of crash resistant type mounted in inner wings. Detachable wing tips.
Fuselage: All metal strucutre built in two main sections. The forward section having the bottom and sides built up as a semi braced structure with light alloy sheeting and the rear portion being a semi monocoque with light alloy frames and stringers. Two built up girders across the bottom of the cabin carry lugs for wing root attachement. Cabin top build as a separate structure and bolted to the fuselage.
Tail Unit: All metal cantilever structure, the tailplane having two light alloy spars, pressed sheet ribs and metal skin. The rear spar has sealed ball bearing hinges for the elevators. The tail plane is built up in two halves and is attachde at either side of the fuselage by two bolts at the front spar and one at the rear spar. The elevators have a light alloy 'D' spar, pressed sheet ribs and fabric covering. The fin is of a similar construction to the tailplane with a metal skin. The rudder is of a similar consturction to the elevators.
Undercarriage: Fixed, each main leg having a long travel shock absorber attached at the top to a simple casting by two bolts, the casting being fixed to the wing front spar by four bolts. The shock has steel springs and a hydrulic rebound damper. Fixed tail wheel.
Propellor: Two blade De Haviland constant speed.

Performance:
Maximum level speed: 171 m.p.h at 6,800 ft; 153 m.p.h at sea level. Operating speed: 154 m.p.h at 12,200 ft.; 129 m.p.h at sea level. Stalling speed (with flaps): 51 m.p.h. Rate of Climb: 1,070 ft./min at sea level; 960 ft./min at 5,000 ft. Service ceiling: 19,000 ft. Range at sea level operating speed: 505 miles. Take off run on grass (still air): 200 yards. Take off run on concerte (still air): 175 yards.

Armament:
None

Remarks:
Produced to satisfy Air Ministry Specifcation T.23/43. The first all metal aircaft to be produced by Percival.

History:
The Percival Prentice trainer was produced to satisfy a new school of thought in elementary training procedure to the requirements set out in Air Ministry Specifcation T.23/43.

The prototype, TV163, made it's trial flights in the spring of 1946 and was accepted by the Air Ministry as a standard elementary trainer for the RAF. Several hundred aircraft were ordered and production was sub-contracted to the Blackburn works at Brough as the Percival factory was concentrating on production of the Percival Proctor and the Merganser light transport aircraft.

Unusally for a trainer the Prentice was a three seater. The instructor and pupil sat side by side in the two front seats, with dual controls, and a second pupil sat in the rear seat without controls to receive 'air experience'. Both puplis are provided with communications with the instructor. Night flying training can be carried out in daylight by means of amber screens incorporated into the canopy and the use of special googles. The amber screens can be folded back when not in use.

Air Atlantique's Prentice was built in August 1947 and given the serial number VR259. She entered service with the Airforce in 1948 at No. 2 Signals School at Halfpenny Green. In 1956 Aviation Traders (Engineering) Limited, acquired 252 ex RAF Prentice aircraft and set about converting them to the civil register. Only a handful actually made it (approx 40) and G-APJB was one.

The first of the certificates of airworthiness was issued on 9th September 1957 and for the next 19 years G-APJB had a succession of owners but by 1976, had flown its last flight for 20 years. After a loving and extensive rebuild over a period of 3 years, she eventually flew again on the 14th June 1996. Once again painted in the colours of the Signals School.

"JB" is available for pleasure flying and can carry three large adults in comfort or more small children and is the ideal machine for mum, dad and the kids to experience their first vintage aircraft. The view from such a grand cabin is second to none and she is the only pleasure-flying example of this type in the world. She also performs a spirited display either in formation or solo at airshows.

If you want to fly in "JB" then call Air Atlantique on 0870 330 4747 for a quote or further information.

	I'm back on the Prentice. Just roughing out the tail plane extension and putting some more detail inside.
	More progress on the VC.

This will be Payware only and will be available from Air Atlantique as part of their Air Atlantique Classic Flight Project.

Tom Everitt of
	Air Atlantique Classic Flight Project Website.
Aircraft of the Fighting Powers: Vol. VII, H.J. Cooper & O.G. Thetford, Edited by D.A. Russel, The Harborough Publishing Company. 1946