Percival Prentice
Percival Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1946 · light aircraft
The Percival Prentice was a postwar basic trainer ordered to replace the Tiger Moth and Airspeed Oxford in the ab initio training role with the RAF. Its wide side-by-side seating for instructor, student, and a third occupant made it unusual among trainers of the era.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.06 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-wing monoplane with wide side-by-side three-seat cabin
- Fixed spatted undercarriage
- Large greenhouse canopy with flat side panels
The wide, flat-bottomed fuselage accommodating the three-abreast front cabin is distinctive; the fixed spatted undercarriage, straight low wing, and prominent canopy framing identify it readily on the ground or in the air.
Specifications
- The Percival Prentice has a length of 10.06 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.02 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 261 km/h (162 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed to Specification T.23/43, the Prentice first flew in March 1946 and entered RAF service in 1948. Some 369 were built, but the type proved underpowered and overweight; it was phased out of RAF service relatively quickly and replaced by the Provost in the early 1950s. Many aircraft were sold to civil operators and foreign air forces.
Variants
The Prentice T.1 was the sole production variant for the RAF; a small number were modified for instrument flying instruction, and civilian-registered examples varied in interior fitment.
Where you'll see it
Several Prentices survive in airworthy condition in the UK, and the type is a regular participant at airshows; various private owners keep the type flying.
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