The
Percival Proctor was a development of the pre-war Gull. The
prototype D.1 Gull (G-ABUR) , a three seat tourer first
appeared in 1932. This was followed by the D.2 which was
more commonly known as the Gull IV. In 1934 Percival
introduced the D.3 Gull Six which featured the DH Gipsy Six
engine, improved undercarriage and cabin arrangements, but
retained the Gull IV folding wing. In November 1935 the
four seat K.1 Vega Gull was introduced. Powered by the same
DH Gipsy Six engine this introduced dual controls and
flaps, and was very successful with 90 being produced up
till July 1939.
It was in a
Gull, G-ADPR that New Zealand Aviatrix Jean Batten set many
of her records.
The Proctor
was initially a military variant of the Vega Gull with
seating reduced to three. It was primarily used for
training and communication work by the RAF, FAA, and Air
Transport Auxiliary. The Proctor I was a communications
model, and the naval version carried a radio operator in
the rear. The Proctor II was used by the FAA with the radio
operator alongside the pilot. The Proctor III series one
was used by the RAF as a three seat communications aircraft
, and the series two as a two seat radio trainer. The
Proctor IV was a substantial redesign returning to a four
seater, involving a longer deeper cabin (and was initially
to be renamed the Precepter). The aircraft was utilised as
a three seat radio trainer, or four seat communications
aircraft. The Proctor V is a civil version of the Proctor
IV. Production amounted to 247 Mk.I, 175 Mk.II, 437 Mk.III,
258 MK.IV, and 150 Mk.V. A single Proctor 6 floatplane was
produced in 1946 for the Hudson Bay Company.
Post war
several hundred military Proctors were released for
civilian purchase, including FAA aircraft P6034 (later
became G-AHDK/OO-AVG) and Z7251 (became G-AIRF), and along
with the Proctor V were a popular aircraft up until the
1960's. Several aircraft were then lost to the failure of
glue joints. As a primarily wooden aircraft utilising
casein glues, the costs of maintaining the certificates of
airworthiness meant that from that time any aircraft were
withdrawn from use.
