View source for Percival Prentice

{{Short description|British military trainer aircraft}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = Prentice
| image = Percival Prentice VS650 Wolves 05.53.jpg
| caption = A Percival P.40 Prentice T.1 of No. 16 Reserve Flying School based at Derby (Burnaston) Airport in service in May 1953
| type = Military [[trainer aircraft]]
| manufacturer = [[Hunting Aircraft|Percival]] <br/> [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]]
| designer = 
| first_flight = 31 March 1946
| introduction = November 1947
| retired = 1953
| status = 
| primary_user = [[Royal Air Force]]
| more_users = [[Argentine Air Force]]<br>[[Indian Air Force]]<br>private pilot owners after disposal by the RAF
| produced = 1947–1949
| number_built = 526
| unit cost = 
| variants = 
}}

The '''Percival Prentice''' was a basic trainer of the [[Royal Air Force]] in the early postwar period.  It was a low-wing [[monoplane]] with a fixed [[tailwheel]] [[Landing gear|undercarriage]]. Front seating was in a side-by-side configuration with a rear seat provided.

==Design and development==
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) prototypes, Prentice TV163<ref>Silvester 1987, p. 94</ref> was first flown by Leonard Carruthers 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.<ref>Silvester 1987, pp. 91-93</ref>

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.<ref name="Marsh">Marsh, Jeff. [http://www.pavaservices.com/cfs/Prentice.htm "Percival "Prentice" T1".] ''Air Atlantique Classic Flight Project,'' 20 September 2005. Retrieved: 14 May 2009.</ref>

The RAF ordered a total of 455 Prentices (95 were subsequently cancelled) and there were also a limited number of export sales. When the Percival factory was concentrating on production of the [[Percival Proctor]] and development of the [[Percival Merganser|Merganser]] as the [[Percival Prince|Prince]] light transport aircraft, production of 125 aircraft was sub-contracted to the [[Blackburn Aircraft]] works at [[Brough, East Riding of Yorkshire|Brough]].<ref>Silvester 1987, p. 96</ref>

==Operational service==
After the above modifications, the Prentice was passed into RAF service, initially with the regular Flying Training Schools (FTS) including the RAF College, Cranwell, where they replaced the remaining [[de Havilland Tiger Moth]]s. Later deliveries went to the Reserve Flying Schools (RFS). The type was used as a pilot trainer until 1952 at the RAF College where it was replaced by the de Havilland (Canada) Chipmunk and in late 1953 at the other schools, when it was replaced by the [[Percival Provost]].<ref>Silvester 1987, pp. 95-97</ref> Two Air Signals Schools also operated the type to train air signallers, until the last were withdrawn from No.1 ASS at [[RAF Swanton Morley]], Norfolk, in mid 1956.<ref>Sturtivant 1997, p. 61.</ref>

==Civilian operations==
[[File:Percival prentice at kemble arp.jpg|thumb|left|A preserved Percival Prentice giving a pleasure flight in 2007]]
In 1956 252 redundant RAF Prentices were bought by [[Aviation Traders]] Ltd, a company owned by [[Freddie Laker]].<ref>Jackson 1974, p. 345</ref><ref>Silvester 1987, p. 98</ref> and were stored at [[London Stansted Airport|Stansted]] and [[London Southend Airport|Southend]]. Most were eventually scrapped but 28 were converted for civil use with two seats and two jumpseats behind the two pilots' seats, separated by a structure which housed the original 4-channel radio. This version had quite poor performance with four passengers. One aircraft (G-AOKL) was based at Stansted Aerodrome near London around 1963 and used by the resident parachute club for parachuting with at least three jumpers. One aircraft (G-APJE) was converted to a seven-seat layout for pleasure flights operated by Jock Maitland at Ramsgate Airport. A nine-seater was under development at Southend to have been fitted with Gipsy Queen 70-2 but the project was abandoned before flight. One (G-AOPL) was acquired from Shackleton Aviation at Sywell by  Captain Jon Cousens, a Desert Intelligence Officer in the Trucial Oman Scouts and flown to Sharjah in 1967; later being flown on to South Africa where it remained until it ceased flying.

Forty-two aircraft were built under licence by [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited|Hindustan Aircraft]] for the [[Indian Air Force]].<ref name="birtles p489"/>

Three fictional civilian Percival Prentice are featured in ''[[The Black Island]]'' (French: ''L'Île noire''), the 7th volume of ''[[The Adventures of Tintin]]'', the comics series by Belgian cartoonist [[Hergé]]. The planes are used by money forgers, flying over [[Sussex]] and [[Scotland]].

==Variants==
;Prentice T.1
:Standard three-seat trainer for Royal Air Force and export. {{convert|251|hp|kW|abbr=on}} [[de Havilland Gipsy Queen]] 32 engine. 463 built.<ref name="birtles p487">Birtles ''Aircraft Illustrated'' December 1975, p. 487.</ref>
;Prentice T.2
:Fitted with supercharged {{convert|296|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Gipsy Queen 51.<ref name="birtles p487"/> One built.<ref name="birtles p489"/>
;Prentice T.3
:Fitted with {{convert|345|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Gipsy Queen 70-2.<ref name="birtles p487"/> 62 built.<ref name="birtles p489"/>

==Operators==
;{{ARG}}
*[[Argentine Air Force]] – Purchased 100 T.1s, with delivery from September 1948.<ref name="birtles p489">Birtles ''Aircraft Illustrated'' December 1975, p. 489.</ref>
;{{flag|Canada|1921}}
*[[Royal Canadian Air Force]] – One aircraft was evaluated and tested by the RCAF in 1948.
;{{IND}}
*[[Indian Air Force]] – Received 20 Percival-built T.3s plus 42 built under licence by [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited|Hindustan Aircraft]].<ref name="birtles p489"/><ref name="birtles p492">Birtles ''Aircraft Illustrated'' December 1975, p. 492.</ref>
;{{LBN}}
*[[Lebanese Air Force]] – Received 3 T.1s.<ref name="birtles p489"/>
;{{UK}}
*[[Royal Air Force]]<ref>Halley 1985, pp. 76–82.</ref>
**[[Central Flying School]]
**[[No. 1 Flying Training School RAF]]
**[[No. 2 Flying Training School RAF]]
**[[No. 3 Flying Training School RAF]]
**[[No. 6 Flying Training School RAF]]
**[[No. 7 Flying Training School RAF]]
**[[No. 22 Flying Training School RAF]]
**[[No. 16 Reserve Flying School RAF]]
**[[No. 22 Reserve Flying School RAF]]
**[[No. 23 Reserve Flying School RAF]]
**[[No. 24 Reserve Flying School RAF]]
**[[No. 25 Reserve Flying School RAF]]

==Surviving aircraft==
[[File:E-390 Percival P.40 Prentice T1 (8164151272).jpg|thumb|Prentice T.1, Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica, Argentina]]

;Argentina 
* E-390 – Prentice T.1 on static display at the [[Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica de Argentina]] in [[Morón, Buenos Aires]].<ref name = IPMSMag052013>Cater & Caballero (IPMS Magazine May 2013)</ref>{{Needs verification|date=October 2024}}

;India
* IV336 – Prentice T.1 on static display at the [[Indian Air Force Museum, Palam]] in [[New Delhi]].{{Cn|date=October 2024}}

;New Zealand
* VS316 – Prentice T.1 on static display at the [[National Transport and Toy Museum, Wānaka|National Transport and Toy Museum]] in [[Wānaka, Otago]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Museum Collection |url=http://nttmuseumwanaka.co.nz/the-museum-collection |website=National Transport & Toy Museum |access-date=27 July 2020}}</ref>{{Needs verification|date=October 2024}}

;United Kingdom
* VR189 – Prentice T.1 airworthy with private owner at Biggin Hill Airport in London.<ref name="Demobbed" />
* VR192 – Prentice T.1 on display at the Brenzett Aeronautical Museum in [[Brenzett|Brenzett, Kent]].<ref name="Demobbed">{{cite web |title=Percival Prentice |url=http://www.demobbed.org.uk/aircraft.php?type=868 |website=Demobbed |access-date=27 July 2020}}</ref>
* VR249 – Prentice T.1 on static display at the [[Newark Air Museum]] in [[Newark-on-Trent|Newark-on-Trent, Nottinhamshire]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Aircraft List |url=http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/Aircraft-List |website=Newark Air Museum |access-date=27 July 2020}}</ref>
* VR259 – Prentice T.1 airworthy with Aero Legends in [[Headcorn, Kent]].<ref>{{cite web |title=THE AIRCRAFT |url=http://www.aerolegends.co.uk/the-aircraft |website=Aero Legends |access-date=27 July 2020}}</ref> It was previously owned by the [[Classic Air Force]].<ref>{{cite web |title=OKAY, WHAT'S ALL THE HURRY? |url=http://www.classicairforce.com/prentice-info |website=Classic Air Force |access-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923204622/http://www.classicairforce.com/prentice-info |archive-date=23 September 2015}}</ref>
* VS610 – Prentice T.1 under restoration with Neil James Butler of [[Laurencekirk|Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire]]. It was previously owned by the [[Shuttleworth Collection]].<ref name="Demobbed" />{{Needs verification|date=October 2024}}
* VS618 – Prentice T.1 on static display at the [[Royal Air Force Museum London]] in [[London]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Simpson |first1=Andrew |title=PERCIVAL PRENTICE T.1 VS618 /G-AOLK MUSEUM ACCESSION NUMBER X005-0834 |url=http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/X005-0834-PERCIVAL-PRENTICE-T1-VS618.pdf |website=Royal Air Force Museum |access-date=27 July 2020 |date=2013}}</ref>
* VS621 – Prentice T.1 on static display at the [[South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum]] in [[Doncaster, South Yorkshire]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}
* VS623 – Prentice T.1 on static display at the [[Midland Air Museum]] in [[Baginton, Warwickshire]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Aircraft Listing |url=http://www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk/aircraftlist.php |website=Midland Air Museum |access-date=27 July 2020}}</ref>

;United States
* VS385 – Prentice T.1 in storage with Gabriel A. Lopez of [[El Monte, California]].<ref>{{cite web |title=FAA REGISTRY [N1041P] |url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N1041P |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=27 July 2020}}</ref>{{Needs verification|date=October 2024}}

==Specifications (T.1 - Gipsy Queen 51)==
[[File:Percival Prentice T1 3-view silhouette.jpg|thumb|right| Percival Prentice T.1]]

{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1947,<ref name=JAWA1947>{{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1947 |edition=35th |editor1-last=Bridgman |editor1-first=Leonard |year=1947 |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Co |location=London }}</ref><ref>Thetford 1976, p. 430</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=2-3
|length ft=31
|length in=3
|length note=
|span ft=46
|span in=0
|span note=
|height ft=12
|height in=10.5
|height note=with tail in rigging position
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=6.94<ref name="jawa51 p70c-1">Bridgman 1951, pp. 70c–71c.</ref>
|airfoil=[[RAF 48]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>
|empty weight lb=2891
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=3860
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity={{cvt|40|impgal|USgal l|0}} fuel in two wing tanks ; {{cvt|4.9|impgal|USgal l|0}} oil
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[de Havilland Gipsy Queen 51]]
|eng1 type=6-cylinder air-cooled inverted in-line piston engine
|eng1 hp=296
|eng1 note=supercharged
::::or {{cvt|251|hp|0}} [[de Havilland Gipsy Queen 32]] un-supercharged engine

|prop blade number=2
|prop name=[[de Havilland]] constant-speed propeller
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed mph=171
|max speed note= at {{cvt|6800|ft|0}}
::::{{cvt|153|mph|kn km/h|0}} at sea level
|cruise speed mph=160
|cruise speed note= at {{cvt|5400|ft|0}} maximum continuous
::::{{cvt|147|mph|kn km/h|0}} at sea level maximum continuous
::::{{cvt|154|mph|kn km/h|0}} at {{cvt|12200|ft|0}} maximum economic
::::{{cvt|129|mph|kn km/h|0}} at sea level maximum economic
|stall speed mph=62.4
|stall speed note=flaps up
::::{{cvt|51|mph|kn km/h|0}} flaps down
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|range miles=505
|range note= at sea level maximum economic
::::{{cvt|517|mph|kn km/h|0}} at {{cvt|12200|ft|0}} maximum economic
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=3 hours 55 minutes maximum economic at sea level ; 3 hours 43 minutes {{cvt|139|mph|kn km/h|0}} at {{cvt|5000|ft|0}} 
|ceiling ft=19000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=
|climb rate ftmin=1070
|climb rate note=initial
::::{{cvt|960|ft/min|m/s|2}} at {{cvt|5000|ft|0}}
|time to altitude=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading lb/sqft=12.65
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass={{cvt|0.0769|hp/lb}}
|more performance=<br/>
*'''Take-off run:''' {{cvt|600|ft|0}} from grass in still air at sea level ISA
::::{{cvt|525|ft|0}} from hard runway in still air at sea level ISA
*'''Take-off distance to {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt|1110|ft|0}} from grass in still air at sea level ISA
::::{{cvt|1035|ft|0}} from hard runway in still air at sea level ISA
|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
<!-- answer yes or no -->
|related=
<!-- From which older designs was this plane developed, and what planes did it lead to? -->
|similar aircraft=
<!-- aircraft with similar role, era, and capability -->
*[[de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk]]
*[[LWD Junak]]
*[[Yakovlev Yak-18]]
*[[Zlin Trener]]
|lists=
<!-- lists of similar aircraft (aircraft from the same nation, with the same mission profile, etc.) -->
*[[List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force]]
|see also=
<!-- For related Wikipedia articles. -->

}}

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* Birtles, Philip J. "The Percival Prentice". ''Aircraft Illustrated'', Vol. 8, No. 12, December 1975. pp.&nbsp;487–493.
* Bridgman, Leonard. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52''. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd., 1951.
* Ellison, Norman H. ''Percivals Aircraft (The Archive Photographs Series)''. Chalford, Stroud, UK: Chalford Publishing Company, 1997. {{ISBN|0-7524-0774-0}}.
* Halley, J.J. ''Royal Air Force Aircraft SA100-VZ999''. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. 1985. {{ISBN|0-85130-136-3}}.
* Jackson, A.J. ''British Civil Aircraft since 1919, Volume 3''. London: Putnam, 1988. {{ISBN|0-85177-818-6}}.
* Silvester, John. ''Percival Aircraft 1933–1954 (Parts 1–4).'' ''Aeroplane Monthly'', Vol. 11, No. 1–4, January–April 1983.
* Silvester, John. ''Percival and Hunting Aircraft''. Leicester: Midland Counties Publications 1987. {{ISBN|0-9513386-0-9}}.
* Sturtivant, Ray. ''Royal Air Force Flying Training and Support Units''. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1997. {{ISBN|0-85130-252-1}}.
* Thetford, Owen. ''Aircraft of the Royal Air Force''. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1976. {{ISBN|0-370-10056-5}}.
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Percival Prentice}}
* [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1948/1948%20-%200889.html "Prentice in the Air"] a 1948 ''Flight'' article

{{Hunting Percival aircraft}}

[[Category:Hunting Percival aircraft|Prentice]]
[[Category:1940s British military trainer aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1946]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]
[[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]