Percival Proctor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival_Proctor

The Percival Proctor was a British radio trainer and communications aircraft of
the Second World War. The Proctor was a single-engined, low-wing monoplane with
seating for three or four, depending on the model.

The Proctor was developed from the Percival Vega Gull in response to Air
Ministry Specification 20/38 for a radio trainer and communications aircraft. To
meet the requirement, the aircraft based on the Vega Gull had larger rear cabin
windows and the fuselage was six inches longer. Modifications were made to the
seats to enable the crew to wear parachutes, and other changes to enable a
military radio and other equipment to be fitted. In early 1939 an order was
placed for 247 aircraft to meet operational requirement OR.65.

The prototype aircraft, serial number P5998, first flew on 8 October 1939 from
Luton Airport. and the type was put into production for the RAF and Fleet Air
Arm. The prototype was tested as an emergency bomber during 1940 but this idea
was abandoned as the invasion threat receded. Although the first 222 aircraft
were built by Percival at Luton, most of the remaining aircraft were built by F.
Hills & Sons of Trafford Park near Manchester. They built 812 Proctors of
several marks between 1941 and 1945, assembling most of the aircraft at Barton
Aerodrome.

It should be noted that, whilst the very early Proctors (Mks I to III.) followed
very closely the last incarnation of the superb Vega Gull, and consequently,
most of its performance, later versions became much heavier and less
aerodynamic, with inevitable detrimental effects upon their performance. The
later marks of Proctor, whilst looking broadly similar, were in fact a complete
redesign of the aircraft and were much enlarged, heavier and even less
efficient. Flight performance was poor. There were later plans to fit them with
the 250 hp Queen 30 and larger airscrew, but only one trial aircraft was so
fitted as the all-metal Prentice was being developed to replace the Proctor,
utilising the Queen 30 etc.

Interestingly, the Prentice itself proved to be a very poor aircraft (Even worse
than the late Proctors.) and served in the RAF for only a handful of years
before withdrawal as it was deemed unsatisfactory. The remaining Proctors in use
soldiered-on after Service use in private hands until the 1960s. At this point,
owing to concerns about the degradation of glued joints in their wooden
airframes, they were all grounded. Several surviving Proctors have been rebuilt
with modern adhesives and should be returned to the air shortly. Early Proctors
still make good light aircraft, as they combine the Vegas attributes of
Long-range, speed and load-carrying ability. Notably, all Proctors inherited the
Vega Gulls feature of wing-folding.


Role
Radio trainer/communications aircraft

Manufacturer
Percival Aircraft Limited

Designer
Edgar Percival

First flight
8 October 1939

Retired
1955

Primary users
RAF
Fleet Air Arm

Number built
1,143

Developed from
Percival Vega Gull

The Proctor was initially employed as a three-seat communications aircraft
(Proctor I). This was followed by the Proctor II and Proctor III three-seat
radio trainers.

In 1941, the Air Ministry issued Specification T.9/41 for a four-seat radio
trainer. The P.31 – originally known as the "Preceptor" but finally redesignated
the Proctor IV – was developed for this requirement with an enlarged fuselage.
One Proctor IV was fitted with a 250 hp (157 kW) Gipsy Queen engine. This was
used as a personal transport by AVM Sir Ralph Sorley but production models
retained the 210 hp (157 kW) motor of earlier marks.

At the end of the war, many early mark Proctors were sold on the civilian market
and were operated in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The Mk IV continued in
service with the RAF until the last was withdrawn in 1955.

In 1945, a civil model derived from the Proctor IV was put into production for
private owner, business and light charter use as the Proctor 5. The RAF
purchased four to be used by air attachés.

The final model of the line was the solitary Proctor 6 floatplane sold to the
Hudson's Bay Company in 1946.

Three highly modified Percival Proctors, nicknamed the "Proctukas," were
produced for the film Battle of Britain as stand-ins for the Ju-87 Stuka. After
test flights revealed instability, they were ultimately abandoned and never
appeared in the film.

Specifications (Proctor IV)

General characteristics
Crew: two/one
Capacity: one/two
Length: 28 ft 2 in (8.59 m)
Wingspan: 39 ft 6 in (12.04 m)
Height: 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
Wing area: 202 ft² (18.77 m²)
Empty weight: 2,375 lb (1,075 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 3,500 lb (1,588 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × de Havilland Gipsy Queen II driving a 2-bladed propeller, 210 hp
(157 kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 139 knots (160 mph, 257 km/h)
Cruise speed: 122 knots (140 mph, 225 km/h)
Stall speed: 42 knots (48 mph, 77 km/h ) (flaps down)
Range: 435 nm (500 mi, 805 km)
Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,265 m)
Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)

Armament


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