The Percival Prince is a British light transport of the early postwar period.
It was a twin engine, high wing, cantilever monoplane of all-metal stressed-skin construction, the undercarriage was of retractable, tricycle configuration.
The design of the Prince continued from the solitary Merganser.
Further development of the type led to the Survey Prince survey aircraft and the Sea Prince.
An improved version of the Prince 3 with an increased wingspan and engine and undercarriage modifications was developed for the Royal Air Force as the Percival Pembroke.
The Prince was produced in six versions for the civil market.
Several examples were operated as executive aircraft including Standard Motors and Shell Oil.
Three aircraft were used by the UK Ministry of Civil Aviation as airport facilities checking aircraft.
The Sea Prince operated in two roles: in T.Mk.1 form it served as a navigation and anti-submarine trainer; the C.Mks. 1 and 2 were flown in the transport role.
However, these were land planes and not COD (carrier on board delivery) aircraft.
Sea Princes operated in both roles from 1954 to 1972 and as a navigation trainer until 1978, when it was replaced by the Handley Page Jetstream
Variants
P.50 Prince 1
Prototype based on Merganser with modified fin and undercarriage and two 520 hp Alvis Leonides 501/4 engine.
P.50 Prince 2
Prince 1 with sloping windscreen, stronger main spar.
P.50 Prince 3
Prince 2 with Alvis Leonides 502/4 engine and lengthened nose on some aircraft.
P.50 Prince 4
Conversions to Alvis Leonides 503 engines.
P.50 Prince 5
Original designation of the Percival President.
P.50 Prince 6
Conversions to Alvis Leonides 504 engines.
P.54 Survey Prince
Prince 2 with lengthened transparent nose and camera hatches.
P.57 Sea Prince C1
Prince 2 for Royal Navy use.
P.57 Sea Prince T1
Prince 3 with long nose housing radar, twin wheeled main undercarriage and lengthened engine nacelles for navigation and anti-submarine training.
