Percival Merganser

Percival Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1947 · transport aircraft

The Percival Merganser was a British twin-engine feeder liner prototype that flew in 1947, serving as the direct precursor to the successful Percival Prince. Only a single prototype was completed before development shifted to the refined Prince design.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	12.09 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Predecessor to the Percival Prince
Twin piston low-wing feeder liner prototype
Retractable undercarriage British post-war transport

A clean low-wing twin monoplane closely resembling the later Percival Prince but slightly smaller, with retractable undercarriage and twin radial engines. Without markings it could easily be confused with the Prince.

Specifications

The Percival Merganser has a length of 12.09 m (40 ft).
It has a wingspan of 14.55 m (48 ft).
Its maximum speed is 311 km/h (193 mph).
Typical crew: 1-2 crew, 6 passengers.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Percival Aircraft developed the Merganser as a post-war feeder liner to fill demand for short-haul regional transport. After the prototype flew, the design was substantially refined and enlarged to produce the Prince, which entered production.

Variants

The Merganser existed only as a single prototype; it was not produced in series, with all subsequent development effort directed toward the Prince.

Where you'll see it

The Merganser did not enter airline or military service; it served only as a developmental prototype for the Percival Prince programme.

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