Percival Petrel

Infobox Aircraft
name=Q.6 Petrel


caption=
type=Six-seat military communications aircraft, four- or six-seat civil feederliner
manufacturer=Percival Aircraft Ltd
designer=Edgar Percival
first flight= 14 September, 1937
introduced= 1938
retired=
status= Retired
primary user=Royal Air Force
more users=Fleet Air Arm Lithuania Egypt
produced=
number built= 27
unit cost=
variants with their own articles=

The Percival Q.6 Petrel was a 1930s British communications aircraft built by Percival Aircraft Limited at Luton. It was used during the Second World War by the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy as a communications and liaison aircraft. It was a twin-engine, low-wing monoplane with a tailwheel undercarriage.

Design and development

The Percival Type-Q was Percival's first twin-engine aircraft. It was constructed of wood, with plywood and fabric covering. It had a fixed, tailwheel undercarriage, with faired mainwheels, although four of the production machines would be equipped with retractable undercarriage.

Two versions were designed: the Q.4, a four-seat executive transport, and the Q.6, a six-seat feederliner. The Q.4 was not built. The prototype Q.6, registration "G-AEYE", first flew on 14 September 1937 at Luton. Production started in 1938, and the first production aircraft, registered "G-AFFD", was delivered to Sir Philip Sassoon on 2 March 1938.

Operational history

A small number were exported, including one to the King Ghazi I of Iraq, one to the Lithuanian Ministry of Communications, and two to the Egyptian government in military camouflage. A total of 27 aircraft were built (one prototype and 26 production aircraft).

The Royal Air Force bought seven aircraft for communications duties under Air Ministry Specification 25/38; these were named Petrel. The Egyptian government bought 2 Q.6s.

In the early months of the Second World War, most of the civil Q.6s were requisitioned for service with the RAF and RN. Two Q.6s of the Lithuanian National Airline were impressed by the Soviet Air Forces in 1940.

With one exception, all the civilian Q.6s served with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Between 1946 and 1947, four requisitioned Q.6s and three Petrels were sold to civilian buyers.

Variants

;Q.4:Four-seat civil executive transport, none built.;Q.6:Six-seat civil feederliner.;Petrel:Six-seat military communications aircraft, 7 built.

Operators

Civilian operators

;AUS;flag|Egypt|1922
* Government of Egypt;FRA;flagicon|India|British British India;flag|Iraq|1924;flag|Lithuania|1918
*Lithuanian National Airline;UK
*Starways
*Western Airways

The aircraft was also operated by flying clubs, companies and private individuals.

Military operators

;USSR
*Soviet Air Force operated captured Lithuanian aircraft.;UK
*Royal Air Force
**No. 24 Squadron RAF
**No. 173 Squadron RAF
**No. 267 Squadron RAF
**No. 510 Squadron RAF
*Fleet Air Arm

urvivors

One Q.6, the first production registered "G-AFFD", is still current on the United Kingdom Civil Aircraft Register ["G-INFO - UK Civil Aircraft Register". [http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=detailnosummary&fullregmark=G-AFFD] Access date: 16 March 2007.] but with an expired certificate of airworthiness. Last known stored in the Isle of Man.

pecifications (Percival Petrel)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?= prop

ref=The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War IIMondey, David. "The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II". London: Chancellor Press, 1994. ISBN 1-85152-668-4.]
crew=2
capacity=4/6
length main= 32 ft 3 in
length alt= 9.83 m
span main= 46 ft 8 in
span alt= 14.22 m
height main= 9 ft 9 in
height alt= 2.97 m
area main= 278 ft²
area alt= 25.83 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 3,500 lb
empty weight alt= 1,588 kg
loaded weight main= lb
loaded weight alt= kg
useful load main= lb
useful load alt= kg
max takeoff weight main= 5,500 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 2,495 kg
more general=

engine (prop)=de Havilland Gipsy Six inline
type of prop=2-blade
number of props=2
power main= 205 hp
power alt= 153 kW
power original=
max speed main= 195 mph
max speed alt= 314 km/h
cruise speed main= 175 mph
cruise speed alt= 282 km/h
never exceed speed main= knots
never exceed speed alt= mph, km/h
stall speed main= knots
stall speed alt= mph, km/h
range main= 750 mi
range alt= 1,207 km
ceiling main= 21,000 ft
ceiling alt= 6,400 m
climb rate main= ft/min
climb rate alt= m/s
loading main= lb/ft²
loading alt= kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= hp/lb
power/mass alt= W/kg
more performance=

armament=none

avionics=

ee also

aircontent

related=

similar aircraft=
*Airspeed Envoy
sequence=

lists=
*List of aircraft of the RAF
*List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm
see also=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Ellis, Ken. "Wrecks & Relics". Hinkley, UK: Midland Publishing, 2006. ISBN 1-85780-235-7.
* "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)". London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.
* Jackson, A.J. "British Civil Aircraft Since 1919, Volume 3". London: Putnam, 1974. ISBN 0-700-10014-X.

External links

* [http://www.pilotfriend.com/aircraft%20performance/Percival/6.htm Percival Q.6 Petrel performance and specifications]