Percival Proctor Mk.1

Radio Communications Trainer/Touring Aircraft

Airworthy - On Display

The Percival Proctor is a British aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied nations as a radio and communications trainer during the Second World War. It was developed from the Percival Vega Gull touring aircraft where modifications were made such as increasing the length of the fuselage to fit the military radio equipment and the pilot’s parachutes.

Our aircraft was built in 1939 by F Hills and Sons Ltd.  In 1940 she was acquired by the RAF as a radio communications trainer and saw service with No.1 Signals School and No. 2 Electrical & Wireless School.

She came to NZ in 1999 and was restored with her first post restoration flight occurring in 2006.  During restoration it was re-configured as a Percival Vega Gull, a pre-war light aircraft that became the fore runner of the war time RAF Proctors.  It is currently painted in a colour scheme similar to that of Jean Batten’s famous Gull which now hangs from the roof of Auckland International Terminal.  In 2016 she was used to represent Jean’s Percival Gull monoplane in the TVNZ movie “Jean”.

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Engine: de Havilland Gipsy Queen II, 210 Hp Straight 6 engine
Length: 8.59m (28ft 2in)
Height: 2.21m (7ft 3in)
Wing Span: 12.04m (39ft 6in)
Cruise Speed: 130 knots (155 mph)
Maximum Speed: 140 knots (160 mph)
Range: 805km (500 miles)
Service Ceiling: 14,000ft (4,265m)