Percival Proctor

The Percival Proctor was a British single‑engine, low‑wing monoplane developed in the late 1930s as a communications and navigation trainer for the Royal Air Force. Designed by Percival Aircraft and later produced under the Hunting Aircraft name after the 1946 merger, the Proctor first flew in 1939 and entered service in 1940. Around 1,300 units were built, including the Mk I, Mk II and Mk III variants, each equipped with a de‑rated Blackburn Cirrus Major engine delivering 115 hp, a fixed‑pitch wooden propeller, and a spacious cabin that could accommodate a pilot plus two passengers or an instructor and student. Its simple, robust airframe featured a retractable landing gear, split‑flaps and an enclosed cockpit that provided excellent visibility for navigation training. The Proctor’s reliable handling, low operating cost and ability to carry radio and navigation equipment made it a workhorse for courier duties, aerial photography and coastal patrols during World War II. After the war it continued in civilian roles as a touring aircraft, illustrating the adaptability of wartime designs to peacetime aviation and cementing its place in British aeronautical heritage. Its legacy endures through preservation efforts, with several airworthy examples displayed at British heritage airshows.

Hunting Aircraft

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Design & Classification