Percival Mew Gull
Percival Aircraft (Hunting Aircraft) · United Kingdom · first flew 1934 · light aircraft
The Percival Mew Gull was a sleek single-seat British racing aircraft of the 1930s, famous for its exceptional speed and clean aerodynamic design. It was one of the fastest piston-engined light aircraft of its era.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-seat 1930s British racing monoplane
- Exceptionally clean low-wing design with retractable undercarriage
- Famous for winning the 1936 King's Cup Air Race
Unmistakeable for its extremely sleek fuselage, small low-set tapered wing, fully enclosed cockpit with small canopy, and minimal frontal area from the closely cowled inline engine.
Specifications
- The Percival Mew Gull has a length of 7 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.5 m (25 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 391 km/h (243 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1934, the Mew Gull was developed by Edgar Percival as a racing and record-breaking aircraft. Alex Henshaw set a solo round-trip record from England to South Africa in a Mew Gull in 1939, a record that stands to this day. Only five were built, and several examples survive in airworthy or restorable condition.
Variants
Individual aircraft differed in engine fit, with de Havilland Gipsy Six and later Gipsy Six Series II engines used; each aircraft was essentially hand-built to a high standard.
Where you'll see it
Used exclusively for private racing and record-breaking; the surviving examples are treasured warbirds, at least one of which is based in the UK.
Related aircraft
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