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 Airport. Production started in 1938, and the first production aircraft, registered G-AFFD, was delivered to Sir Philip Sassoon on 2 March 1938.
Operational historyedit
A small number were exported, including one to the King Ghazi I of Iraq, two to the Lithuanian Ministry of Communications, one to the Australian Civil Aviation Board and two to the Egyptian government in military camouflage. A total of 27 aircraft were built (one prototype and 26 production aircraft).
Ex RAF Petrel operated in the UK in 1949 by Ductile Steels as an executive transport
The Royal Air Force bought seven aircraft for communications duties under Air Ministry Specification 25/38; these were unofficially named Petrel. The Egyptian government bought two 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 Air Lines were impressed by the Soviet Air Forces in 1940 and used with Soviet airline Aeroflot on Riga-Velikye Luki or Riga-Moscow lines.[2]
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. These were operated by small UK airlines, as executive transports and flown by private pilot owners.
Variantsedit
Q.4
Four-seat civil executive transport, none built.
Q.6
Six-seat civil feederliner.
Q.6 Mk I
Prototype fitted with wings intended for the Q.4 variant, one built.
Q.6 Mk II
Production variant with fixed landing gear, 12 built.
Q.6 Mk III
Variant with retractable landing gear. four built and one conversion from Mk II.
Q.6 Mk IV
Proposed air survey variant, not built.
Q.6 Mk V
Variant for military communications with a toilet, four passenger seats, nine-built.
Petrel
Name given to Q.6 Mk V military communications aircraft.
One Q.6, the first production registered G-AFFD, is still current on the United Kingdom Civil Aircraft Register but with an expired certificate of airworthiness. Currently being stored at Seething Airfield, Norwich, Norfolk.[3] Under restoration to flight condition. This aircraft is believed to be the only remaining example of the aircraft type.
Specifications (Percival Q.6 Petrel)edit
Percival Q.4 3-view L'Aerophile January 1938
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938,[4] The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II[1]
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Capacity: 4-6 passengers
Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
Wingspan: 46 ft 8 in (14.22 m)
Height: 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)
Wing area: 278 sq ft (25.8 m2)
Empty weight: 3,500 lb (1,588 kg)
Gross weight: 5,500 lb (2,495 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × de Havilland Gipsy Six II 6-cylinder air-cooled inverted in-line piston engines, 205 hp (153 kW) each
The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aircraft. London: Orbis Publications. 1985.
Jackson, A. J. (1974). British civil aircraft 1919-1972 Volume III (2nd ed.). London: Putnam. pp. 104–106, 515–516. ISBN978-0-370-10014-2.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Percival Petrel.
"Percival Q.6 Petrel performance and specifications". Pilotfriend : Certified Aircraft Database. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
December 15, 2023
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The Percival Q 6 was a 1930s British communications aircraft built by Percival Aircraft Limited at Luton Originally the Percival Q 6 was a civil transport but It was used during the Second World War by the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy as a communications and liaison aircraft 1 It was a twin engine low wing monoplane with a tailwheel undercarriage Q 6Role Six seat military communications aircraft four or six seat civil feederlinerManufacturer Percival Aircraft LtdDesigner Edgar PercivalFirst flight 14 September 1937Introduction 1938Status RetiredPrimary users Royal Air ForceFleet Air ArmLithuaniaEgyptNumber built 27 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 4 1 Civilian operators 4 2 Military operators 5 Survivors 6 Specifications Percival Q 6 Petrel 7 See also 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External linksDesign and development editThe 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 Airport Production started in 1938 and the first production aircraft registered G AFFD was delivered to Sir Philip Sassoon on 2 March 1938 Operational history editA small number were exported including one to the King Ghazi I of Iraq two to the Lithuanian Ministry of Communications one to the Australian Civil Aviation Board and two to the Egyptian government in military camouflage A total of 27 aircraft were built one prototype and 26 production aircraft nbsp Ex RAF Petrel operated in the UK in 1949 by Ductile Steels as an executive transportThe Royal Air Force bought seven aircraft for communications duties under Air Ministry Specification 25 38 these were unofficially named Petrel The Egyptian government bought two 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 Air Lines were impressed by the Soviet Air Forces in 1940 and used with Soviet airline Aeroflot on Riga Velikye Luki or Riga Moscow lines 2 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 These were operated by small UK airlines as executive transports and flown by private pilot owners Variants editQ 4 Four seat civil executive transport none built Q 6 Six seat civil feederliner Q 6 Mk I Prototype fitted with wings intended for the Q 4 variant one built Q 6 Mk II Production variant with fixed landing gear 12 built Q 6 Mk III Variant with retractable landing gear four built and one conversion from Mk II Q 6 Mk IV Proposed air survey variant not built Q 6 Mk V Variant for military communications with a toilet four passenger seats nine built Petrel Name given to Q 6 Mk V military communications aircraft Operators editCivilian operators edit nbsp Australia nbsp France nbsp British India nbsp IraqKing Ghazi I nbsp Percival Q 6 of Lithuanian Air Lines 1939 KaunasIraqi State Railways nbsp LithuaniaLithuanian Air Lines nbsp United KingdomStarways Western AirwaysThe aircraft was also operated by flying clubs companies and private individuals nbsp Soviet Union Aeroflot in 1940 1941 operated two aircraft captured in June 1940 from Lithuanian Air Lines following the Occupation of the Baltic states Military operators edit nbsp EgyptRoyal Egyptian Air Force two aircraft used by the Royal Flight nbsp IraqRoyal Iraqi Air Force one aircraft acquired in 1939 nbsp United KingdomRoyal Air Force No 24 Squadron RAF No 173 Squadron RAF No 267 Squadron RAF No 510 Squadron RAF Fleet Air ArmSurvivors editOne Q 6 the first production registered G AFFD is still current on the United Kingdom Civil Aircraft Register but with an expired certificate of airworthiness Currently being stored at Seething Airfield Norwich Norfolk 3 Under restoration to flight condition This aircraft is believed to be the only remaining example of the aircraft type Specifications Percival Q 6 Petrel edit nbsp Percival Q 4 3 view L Aerophile January 1938Data from Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1938 4 The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II 1 General characteristicsCrew 2 Capacity 4 6 passengers Length 32 ft 3 in 9 83 m Wingspan 46 ft 8 in 14 22 m Height 9 ft 9 in 2 97 m Wing area 278 sq ft 25 8 m2 Empty weight 3 500 lb 1 588 kg Gross weight 5 500 lb 2 495 kg Powerplant 2 de Havilland Gipsy Six II 6 cylinder air cooled inverted in line piston engines 205 hp 153 kW each Propellers de Havilland Propellers controllable pitch propellersPerformance Maximum speed 195 mph 314 km h 169 kn at sea level Cruise speed 181 mph 291 km h 157 kn at 7 000 ft 2 134 m with retractable undercarriage172 mph 149 kn 277 km h at 7 000 ft 2 134 m with fixed undercarriage dd dd dd Landing speed 58 mph 50 kn 93 km h with flaps extended Range 700 750 mi 1 130 1 210 km 610 650 nmi Endurance 4 hours at cruise Service ceiling 21 000 ft 6 400 m Rate of climb 1 150 ft min 5 8 m s Absolute ceiling on one engine 6 500 ft 1 981 m Wing loading 19 8 lb sq ft 97 kg m2 Power mass 0 0746 hp lb 0 1226 kW kg See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Airspeed EnvoyRelated lists List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force List of aircraft of World War IIReferences edit a b Mondey David 1994 The Hamlyn concise guide to British aircraft of World War II London Chancellor Press ISBN 1 85152 668 4 Saulius Stulas Jonas Monkevicius Lektuvai Percival Q6 Plieno Sparnai in Lithuanian G INFO UK Civil Aircraft Register G AFFD UK Civil Aircraft Register Retrieved 16 March 2007 Grey C G Bridgman Leonard eds 1938 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1938 London Sampson Low Marston amp company ltd pp 63c 64c Further reading editEllis Ken 2006 Wrecks amp relics 20th ed Hinckley UK Midland ISBN 1 85780 235 7 The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aircraft London Orbis Publications 1985 Jackson A J 1974 British civil aircraft 1919 1972 Volume III 2nd ed London Putnam pp 104 106 515 516 ISBN 978 0 370 10014 2 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Percival Petrel Percival Q 6 Petrel performance and specifications Pilotfriend Certified Aircraft Database Retrieved 28 June 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Percival Petrel amp oldid 1177479289, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
