The Percival Prentice was a basic trainer of the Royal Air Force in the early post-war period.
It is a low-wing monoplane with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage.
Front seating was in a side-by-side configuration with a rear seat provided.
Designed to meet Air Ministry Specification T.23/43, the Prentice was the first all-metal aircraft to be produced by the Percival Aircraft Company.
The first (of 5) prototype Prentice TV163 first flew from Percival’s factory at Luton Airport, Bedfordshire on 31 March 1946.
Early trials revealed lateral instability with inadequate rudder control and poor spin recovery, which required extensive tests with revised tail configurations.
These resulted in modifications to the fin, rudder, elevators and upturned wingtips.
An unusual design feature was the provision for three seats.
While the instructor and pupil were equipped with dual controls in a side-by-side arrangement in the front, a second pupil sat in the rear seat without controls to receive “air experience”.
Both pupils could communicate with the instructor.
Night flying training was to be carried out in daylight by means of amber screens incorporated into the canopy and the use of special goggles.
The amber screens were folded back when not in use.
The RAF ordered a total of 455 Prentices (95 subsequently cancelled) as well as a limited number of export sales.
When the Percival factory was concentrating on production of the Percival Proctor and development of the Merganser as the Prince light transport aircraft, production of 125 aircraft was sub-contracted to the Blackburn Aircraft works at Brough.
Variants
Prentice T.1
Standard three seat trainer for the Royal Air Force and export models.
251 hp (187 kW) de Havilland Gipsy Queen 32 engine.
Prentice T.2
Fitted with a supercharged 296 hp (221 kW) Gipsy Queen 51.
Prentice T.3
Fitted with a 345 hp (257 kW) Gipsy Queen 70-2.
Specifications
T.1 – Gipsy Queen 51
Crew
2-3
Length
31 ft 3 in (9.53 m)
Wingspan
46 ft 0 in (14.02 m)
Height
12 ft 10.5 in (3.924 m) with tail in rigging position
Aspect ratio
6.94
Airfoil
RAF 48
Empty weight
2,891 lb (1,311 kg)
Gross weight
3,860 lb (1,751 kg)
Fuel capacity
40 imp gal (48 US gal; 182 l) fuel in two wing tanks,
