Percival P.40 Prentice

Percival P.40 Prentice

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11/20/2004. Remarks by Dave Simpson: "The Prentice was the RAF standard 3 seat basic trainer post war. These aircraft were built commencing 1946 after the prototype was first flown in March of that year. As far as I can tell, only the RAF, Argentina, India and Lebanon used the aircraft in their A.F. training programs. Manufacturing licenses were granted to Argentina and India to build the basic model (251 hp Gipsy Queen 32 engine), and India as well built a T.Mk.3 version (345 hp Gipsy Queen 71 engine). Of note is that Aviation Traders (Engineering) Ltd. in 1956 bought 252 Ex- RAF Prentice trainers and commenced rebuilding them as a civil aircraft receiving complete new full CofA. These airframes were totally refurbished with all military hardware removed and passenger seating for either 5 or 7 were accommodated within the large cabin confines of the airframe. This conversion was not a huge success as the first 20 converted were found to be somewhat underpowered, the other 230 remaining airframes eventually being scrapped."


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11/20/2004. Remarks by Dave Simpson: "The Prentice was the RAF standard 3 seat basic trainer post war. These aircraft were built commencing 1946 after the prototype was first flown in March of that year. As far as I can tell, only the RAF, Argentina, India and Lebanon used the aircraft in their A.F. training programs. Manufacturing licenses were granted to Argentina and India to build the basic model (251 hp Gipsy Queen 32 engine), and India as well built a T.Mk.3 version (345 hp Gipsy Queen 71 engine). Of note is that Aviation Traders (Engineering) Ltd. in 1956 bought 252 Ex- RAF Prentice trainers and commenced rebuilding them as a civil aircraft receiving complete new full CofA. These airframes were totally refurbished with all military hardware removed and passenger seating for either 5 or 7 were accommodated within the large cabin confines of the airframe. This conversion was not a huge success as the first 20 converted were found to be somewhat underpowered, the other 230 remaining airframes eventually being scrapped."