Percival Pembroke
Hunting Percival / Hunting Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1952 · transport aircraft
The Percival Pembroke is a twin-piston high-wing communications and light transport aircraft that served the Royal Air Force and numerous other air forces throughout the 1950s and 1960s. It replaced the earlier Anson in the RAF communications role.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Rectangular cabin windows in a boxy fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-Alvis Leonides piston high-wing RAF communications transport
- Rectangular cabin windows in a boxy fuselage
- Non-retractable tailwheel undercarriage
A high-wing twin-piston transport with a boxy rectangular fuselage, large cabin windows, and a fixed tailwheel undercarriage. The combination of Alvis Leonides radial engines in round nacelles on the high wing is distinctive.
Specifications
- The Percival Pembroke has a length of 14.02 m (46 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 19.66 m (65 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 354 km/h (220 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering RAF service in 1953, the Pembroke served in transport, communications, and photographic survey roles with multiple RAF commands worldwide. It was also exported to Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, and Sweden.
Variants
The C.1 was the main RAF transport variant; the C(PR).1 added a survey camera installation. Export variants received different suffixes by customer.
Where you'll see it
Served extensively with the RAF in the communications and VIP transport role through the 1960s and into the 1970s; also operated by the Royal Swedish Air Force and the German Luftwaffe among others.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.