Percival Pembroke

Percival P.66 Pembroke
Privately owned Hunting Percival P-66 Pembroke C.1 takes off in 2008
Role Light transport
Manufacturer Percival Aircraft Company
First flight 21 November 1952
Introduction 1953
Retired 1988
Primary user Royal Air Force
Produced 1953-1958
Number built 128


The Percival Pembroke was a British high-wing twin-engined light transport aircraft built by the Percival Aircraft Company, later Hunting Percival.

Development

The Pembroke was a development of the Percival Prince civil transport. It had a longer wing to permit a higher fully laden weight. The prototype flew on 21 November 1952. Production was complete in early 1958.

Operational history

Percival Pembroke C.1 of Bomber Command Communications Squadron at Blackbushe Airport Hampshire in September 1956.

It entered service with the Royal Air Force as the Percival Pembroke C.1 in 1953 to replace the Avro Anson for light transport duties. As with other RAF transports, the passenger seats are rearward-facing for improved safety.

Six were produced as the Pembroke C(PR).1 photographic reconnaissance aircraft. these saw use by No. 81 Squadron RAF during the Malayan Emergency. The RAF's Pembrokes were modified to extend their lifespan in 1970. The last unit to use them was No. 60 Squadron RAF based at RAF Wildenrath in Germany, these were withdrawn from use in 1988 and were replaced by the Hawker Siddeley Andover.

The Finnish Air Force operated two aircraft for aerial photography between 1956 to 1968, on behalf of the National Land Survey of Finland. One of the aircraft was destroyed when it hit a snow wall during landing in 1965. The other aircraft is currently stored at the Aviation Museum of Central Finland.[1]

Survivors

Preserved Pembroke C.1 WV740 giving a flying display

Pembroke C.1 WV740 (G-BNPH) is privately maintained in RAF markings in the UK (as of 2009) and gives flying displays.

Pembroke C.1 " WV746 is currently housed in Hangar 1 at RAF museum Cosford. Ex CinC's Air Support Command VIP personal aircraft of 1960's and 1970's. Modified to carry wheelchair ramp. Later with 60 Sqdn, Germany.

Pembroke Mk. 51 s/n K66-B4001 is located at the Essex County Airport in Fairfield, New Jersey. The aircraft was built in 1953 and last served with the Belgium Air Force. The left engine is inoperable and the aircraft is damaged and in a deteriorated condition. It was offered as a warbird contest prize in spring 2009.

Pembroke Mk 51 s/n K66-4002 is on display at Taylor's Stateline Liquor Store in Neelyville, MO.

Belgian Air Force keeps its RM7 at their Melsbroek premises just across the military air terminal; its sister RM4 is in the Brussels Aviation Museum.

Classic Air Force at Coventry Airport, England operate Pembroke C.1 G-BXES painted as XL954 in RAF Transport Command Livery.

Pembroke SE-BKH (ex RAF XK884) is at Västerås Flygmuseum, Sweden, in airworthy condition with Swedish markings.

Pembroke C52/Tp 83, Swedish Flygvapnet 83007 is displayed at Svedinos Bil- och Flygmuseum, Ugglarp, Halland, Sweden.[2][3]

Pembrokes C54 54+21 and 54+24 are at Flugausstellung Hermeskeil, Rheinland Pfalz, Germany.[4]

Pembroke C54 54+08 is on display at Aeronauticum, adjacent to Nordholz Naval Airbase, Germany.[5]

Pembroke C54 54+02 is displayed at Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum, Germany, marked as "D-CAKE".[6]

Pembroke C54 AS+558 / 54+07 is displayed at Militärhistorisches Museum Flugplatz Berlin-Gatow, Germany.[7]

Variants

P.66 Pembroke C.1
Communications and transport variant for the RAF, 44 built.
P.66 Pembroke C(PR).1
Photographic reconnaissance variant for the RAF, six built and two conversions from C.1.
P.66 Pembroke C51
export variant for Belgium.
P.66 Pembroke C52
export variant for Sweden. Swedish military designation Tp 83.
P.66 Pembroke C53
export variant for Finland.
P.66 Pembroke C54
export variant for West Germany.
P.66 Pembroke C55
export variant for Sudan
P.66 President
Civil transport version, five built.

Operators

Luftwaffe Pembroke C.54 preserved at the Junior Museum, Hermeskeil, Germany, in June 2007
 Belgium
 Denmark
 Finland
 Germany
 Malawi
 Rhodesia
 Sweden
 Sudan
 United Kingdom
 Zambia

Specifications (Pembroke C.1)

Data from Gatwick museum Pembroke page

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

Notes

Bibliography

  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985) London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.
  • Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919 (Volume 3). London: Putnam, 1974. ISBN 0-370-10014-X.
  • Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE, BA, RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Sturtivant, Ray, ISO and John Hamlin. RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.

External links

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