Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Four-seat cabin monoplane

Power Plant:

One 155 kw (208 hp) de Havilland Gipsy Queen 2 six-cylinder in-line air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

The Percival Proctor I was basically a Vega Gull altered to meet a specification by the British Air Ministry for a communications aircraft suitable to meet the requirements of the Royal Air Force, this being achieved by the reduction of seating capacity from four to three, and redesigning of the cabin glazing. No prototype as such was built, the first production Proctor I (P5998) being flown on 8 October 1939. In all, 246 examples of this model were built before production changed to the Proctor II, of which 196 were built, and the Proctor III, of which 436 were built. The latter two models were specifically radio trainers for military use without dual controls. In 1943 the Proctor IV appeared with a lengthened fuselage, larger windows, and four seats. About eight pre-production aircraft and 250 production Mk IVs were built.

Following World War II, some 225 Proctor I, II and III aircraft were converted for civil operations in the United Kingdom. In 1955 sixty Proctor 4s, as they had become known, were released for civil use. Also at this time the Proctor 5, a civil variant, was released with some 150 being built. It was in one of these aircraft (G-AGTA – c/n Ae.10) that the renowned long-distance pilot James A Mollison left Cornwall, UK, on 28 January 1946 and flew to Brazil in South America covering some 7,467 km (4,640 miles) in 37.5 hours flying time.

Between 1946 and 1958 a total of 39 Proctors of various models appeared on the Australian Civil Register. The first aircraft imported was delivered to Laverton, VIC on 27 February 1945 in RAF markings (NP336) as the personal aircraft of the Governor-General. It was operated on his behalf by the RAAF Communications Flight at Canberra, ACT along with two Avro Ansons and an Avro York. Although the aircraft was allotted an RAAF serial (A75-1), this was never carried and it always flew with the RAF serial. Later it became VH-BNB, eventually being lost when it crashed at Chiltern, VIC on 23 May 1958. Another Proctor (VH-BCM – c/n Ae.8 – ex G-AGTB), after restoration, was camouflaged and painted as NP336 being placed on display at the Camden Museum of Aviation at Narellan, NSW.

The first civil Proctor was a Mk 5 (c/n H.860 – ex G-AGSY, RM197) which became VH-ARV after being shipped from the UK in February 1946. This was followed by VH-AIE (c/n Ae.13) in July 1946, which crashed on 25 August 1962 on Wildera Station due to the failure of the starboard wing. A number of others were flown to Australia by air force aircrews returning to Australia after the war; and ex RAF crews emigrating to Australia. Many were shipped out. One Proctor 5 (c/n Ae.31 – ex G-AKIW) was flown to Australia by Neville S Norway (noted author Neville Schute) in February 1949 to gain material for a planned book. The aircraft was fitted with long-range fuel tanks. After a short stay he returned by the same route. In June 1950 he returned to live in Melbourne, VIC the aircraft being shipped out and becoming VH-DIW.

In all thirteen Mk I, twelve Mk IIIs, two Mk 4s (VH-BNB and VH-GBW), and eleven Mk 5s have been registered in Australia. In 1962 21 Proctors remained on the register, but on 25 August that year, a Proctor 5 crashed when the starboard wing leading-edge broke away in flight. Investigations revealed that “the glue used in the assembly of the starboard wing had deteriorated to such a degree as to render the wing considerably under the designed strength.” Subsequently, airworthiness certificates for all Mk 5s were suspended, and tests were carried out on Mk Is and IIIs. The cost of airworthiness renewals was so high that most were withdrawn from service and scrapped.

Companies involved in the importation of Proctors included Overseas Corporation (Australia) Ltd, Morris Air Service in conjunction with Suttons Motors of Sydney, and Australian Aviation Investments Pty Ltd.  Some were used for charter work, but only one (VH-ARV (c/n Ae.2 – G-AGSY, RM197) was used by an Aero Club, spending time with the Aero Club of Southern Tasmania. Another (VH-BJY – c/n Ae.91) was used by Dr Geoffrey Young of Forbes, NSW as an ambulance, being modified to take a removable stretcher. VH-BQR (c/n K.392 – ex G-ALIS, Z7203) was used for medical work in western and northern South Australia by the Bush Church Aid Society. One was exported, a Mk 5 (VH-BLU – c/n Ae.139 – ex G-AKIV), to New Caledonia in 1956 as F-OAYN. After retirement a few ended their lives on fire dumps.

Since their forced retirement efforts have been made to restore a couple to airworthiness. One Mk I (VH-FEP – c/n K.279 – ex G-AHTN, P6245) was restored at Kalgoorlie to airworthy condition in Western Australia and this was placed in storage for the Museum of Australia in Canberra, ACT. Although held by the museum it is not known to have ever been placed on display. Work also has proceeded on the restoration of two Mk IIIs, VH-SCC (c/n H44 – ex G-AKWO, BV544) and VH-AHR (c/n H466 – ex G-ALCF, LZ684).

One (VH-AVG – c/n H.224 – ex G-AHVG, BV658) was restored and placed on display at the Central Aviation Museum at Alice Springs, NT. VH-DUL (c/n K.246 – ex G-AHFU, P6187) underwent restoration at Essendon, VIC. The restoration was completed by Latrobe Valley Airframes and Welding and it became VH-UXS, making its post-restoration flight in mid-2019.

Restoration also commenced on VH-AHY (c/n H.9 – ex G-AIEB, BR743). One of two Proctors which were in storage at Gunnedah, NSW, (VH-BCX – c/n K305 – ex G-AHTV, P6271) was exported to New Zealand where restoration was commenced.

Proctors surviving in New Zealand include ZK-AQZ (c/n AE143 – Spirit of Wirarapa) and ZK-ARP (c/n AE97), both Mk 5s; and ZK-AQJ (c/n AE50), ZK-AQK (c/n AE79) and ZK-AVW (c/n AE78). One ex-New Zealand machine ZK-AOA (c/n H.15 – ex G-AIXP, R7499), which had operated with the Hawkes Bay & East Coast Aero Club, was shipped to Melbourne, VIC in 1958, eventually ending up at Bankstown, NSW in 1962 where it was not restored and was burnt.

Others brought to Australia and not registered included c/n H.513, a Mk III (ex G-ALJK, LZ743) damaged beyond repair at Blackheath, NSW on 27 December 1949; Mk I c/n K.302 (ex G-AHUZ, P6268), the fate of which is not known; and Mk III (c/n H.465 (ex G-ALSM, LZ6832) which was lost without trace whilst crossing the Timor Sea on 11 May 1952.  A number built after the war for civil use by Percival Aircraft Ltd had airframe numbers in the Ae series and eleven are known to have been imported.

A number are held in museums. A Mk II (c/n K.392 – ex Z7203) came to Australia in November 1952 and became VH-BQR. It had a number of owners before it was retired in January 1963 and has been restored for the Aviation Heritage Museum in WA. Proctor I VH-AUC (c/n K253 – ex G-AHDI, P6194) is with the National Aviation Museum at Moorabbin, VIC painted as A75-1.  A Proctor (ZK-AQZ) was restored by the Croydon Aircraft Company at Mandeville but to basically Percival Gull configuration and is regularly flown.