Percival Prentice T1 Aircraft History - Post-World War Two Aircraft

Aircraft Information

Aircraft Serial Number: VS618
Historical Period: Post-World War Two
RAF Museum Collection Ref: X005-0834
Location at RAF Museum: RAF Museum London, Bomber Hall

Aircraft History

A total of 349 production standard Percival P.40 Prentice Tiger Moth replacement two-(originally three) seat basic trainer aircraft were built for RAF. As the RAF's first side-by-side basic trainer, Prentices were delivered 1947-49, serving as trainers until late 1953 and for training air signallers until mid-1956, being replaced by the Percival Provost. A grand total of 483 Prentices were built including some for Argentina, Lebanon and India.

In May 1956 the RAF Museum's aircraft was one of 252 Prentices sold to the late Sir Freddie Laker's Aviation Traders Ltd at Southend, for conversion as a civilian touring aircraft, making them the world's 8th or 9th largest air force at the time!

However, the somewhat underpowered and fuel-guzzling Prentice was outperformed and outsold by more modern American types. The RAF Museum's aircraft was one of only 19 Prentices actually sold by Laker; most ended their days piled up for scrap at Southend Airport.

• Full aircraft history of the Percival Prentice T1 (Adobe Reader Document, .pdf)