Percival Petrel

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Q.6 Petrel
Type Six-seat military communications aircraft, four- or six-seat civil feederliner
Manufacturer Percival Aircraft Ltd
Designed by Edgar Percival
Maiden flight 14 September 1937
Status out of service
Primary users RAF
Fleet Air Arm
USSR
Lithuania
Egypt
Number built 27

The Percival Q.6 Petrel was a 1930s British communications aircraft built by Percival Aircraft Limited at Luton. It was used during World War II by the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy as a communications and liaison aircraft.[1] It was a twin-engine, low-wing monoplane with a tailwheel undercarriage.

Contents

[edit] Development and history

The Percival Type-Q was Percival's first twin-engine aircraft.

It was constructed of wood, with plywood and fabric covering. It had a fixed, tailwheel undercarriage, with faired mainwheels, although four of the production machines would be equipped with retractable leading gear. Two versions were designed: the Q.4, a four-seat executive transport, and the Q.6, a six-seat feederliner. The Q.4 was not built. The prototype Q.6, registration G-AEYE, first flew on 14 September 1937 at Luton. Production started in 1938, and the first production aircraft, registered G-AFFD, was delivered to Sir Philip Sasson on 2 March 1938.

A small number were exported, including one to the King Ghazi I of Iraq, one to the Lithuanian Ministry of Communications, and two to the Egyptian government in military camouflage. A total of 27 aircraft were built (one prototype and 26 production aircraft).

[edit] Operational history

The Royal Air Force bought 7 aircraft for communications duties under Air Ministry Specification 25/38; these were named Petrel. The Egyptian government bought 2 Q.6s.

In the early months of WWII, most of the civil Q.6s were requisitioned for service with the RAF and RN. Two Q.6s of the Lithuanian National Airline were impressed by the Soviet Air Forces in 1940.

With one exception, all the civilian Q.6s served with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Between 1946 and 1947, four requisitioned Q.6s and three Petrels were sold to civilian buyers.

[edit] Variants

  • Q.4 - four-seat civil executive transport. None built.
  • Q.6 - six-seat civil feederliner.
  • Petrel - six-seat military communications aircraft. 7 built.

[edit] Operators

[edit] Civilian operators

The aircraft was also operated by flying clubs, companies and private individuals.

[edit] Military operators

[edit] Survivors

One Q.6, the first production registered G-AFFD, is still current on the United Kingdom Civil Aircraft Register[2] but with an expired certificate of airworthiness. Last known stored in the Isle of Man.

[edit] Specifications (Percival Petrel)

Data from The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: 4/6
  • Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
  • Wingspan: 46 ft 8 in (14.22 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)
  • Wing area: 278 ft² (25.83 m²)
  • Empty weight: 3,500 lb (1,588 kg)
  • Loaded weight: lb (kg)
  • Useful load: lb (kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 5,500 lb (2,495 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2× de Havilland Gipsy Six inline 2-blade, 205 hp (153 kW) each

Performance

Armament

none

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Mondey, David (1994). The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II. Chancellor Press. ISBN 1 85152 668 4. 
  2. ^ G-INFO - UK Civil Aircraft Register. Retrieved on 2007-03-16.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 
  • Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3. London: Putnam. ISBN 0 370 10014 X. 
  • Ellis, Ken (2006). Wrecks & Relics. Hinkley: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1 85780 235 7. 

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