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{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
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{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
 |name=Percival Proctor
 |image=Percival proctor.jpg
 |caption=RAF Percival Proctor I
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
 |type=Radio trainer/communications aircraft
 |manufacturer=[[Percival Aircraft Limited]]
 |designer=[[Edgar Percival]]
 |first flight=8 October 1939
 |introduced=
 |retired=[[1955 in aviation|1955]]
 |status=
 |primary user=[[RAF]]
 |more users=[[Fleet Air Arm]]
 |produced=
 |number built=1,143
 |unit cost=
 |developed from=[[Percival Vega Gull]]
 |variants with their own articles=
}}
|}
The '''Percival Proctor''' was a British radio trainer and communications aircraft of the [[Second World War]]. The Proctor was a single-engined, low-wing [[monoplane]] with seating for three or four, depending on the model.

==Design and development==
The Proctor was developed from the [[Percival Vega Gull]] in response to [[Air Ministry]] [[List of Air Ministry Specifications|Specification 20/38]] for a radio trainer and communications aircraft.  To meet the requirement, the aircraft based on the Vega Gull had larger rear cabin windows and the fuselage was six inches longer. Modifications were made to the seats to enable the crew to wear parachutes, and other changes to enable a military radio and other equipment to be fitted. In early 1939 an order was placed for 247 aircraft to meet operational requirement OR.65.

The prototype aircraft, serial number ''P5998'', first flew on 8 October 1939 from Luton Airport.<ref name="thetford raf">Thetford, Owen. ''Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918–57, 1st edition''. London: Putnam, 1957.</ref> and the type was put into production for the RAF and Fleet Air Arm. The prototype was tested as an emergency bomber during 1940 but this idea was abandoned as the invasion threat receded.  Although the first 222 aircraft were built by Percival at Luton, most of the remaining aircraft were built by F. Hills & Sons of [[Trafford Park]] near Manchester. They built 812 Proctors of several marks between 1941 and 1945, assembling most of the aircraft at [[Barton Aerodrome]].<ref>Scholefield 2004, p. 227.</ref>

Whilst the very early Proctors (Mks I to III.) followed very closely the last incarnation of the Vega Gull, and consequently retained most of its performance, later versions became much heavier and less aerodynamic, with inevitable detrimental effects upon their performance. The later marks of Proctor, whilst looking broadly similar, were in fact a complete redesign of the aircraft and were much enlarged, heavier and even less efficient. Flight performance was poor. There were later plans to fit them with the 250&nbsp;hp Queen 30 and larger airscrew, but only one trial aircraft was so fitted as the all-metal Prentice was being developed to replace the Proctor, utilising the Queen 30 etc.  Interestingly, the Prentice itself proved to be a very poor aircraft (Even worse than the late Proctors.) and served in the RAF for only a handful of years before withdrawal as it was deemed unsatisfactory. The remaining Proctors in use soldiered-on after Service use in private hands until the 1960s. At this point, owing to concerns about the degradation of glued joints in their wooden airframes, they were all grounded. Several surviving Proctors have been rebuilt with modern adhesives and should be returned to the air shortly. Early Proctors still make good light aircraft, as they combine the Vega's attributes of Long-range, speed and load-carrying ability. Notably, all Proctors inherited the Vega Gull's feature of wing-folding.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}

==Operational history==
The Proctor was initially employed as a three-seat communications aircraft ('''Proctor I''').  This was followed by the ''Proctor II'' and ''Proctor III'' three-seat radio trainers.

In 1941, the Air Ministry issued Specification T.9/41 for a four-seat radio trainer.  The P.31 – originally known as the "Preceptor" but finally redesignated the Proctor IV – was developed for this requirement with an enlarged fuselage. One Proctor IV was fitted with a 250&nbsp;hp (157&nbsp;kW) [[de Havilland Gipsy Queen|Gipsy Queen]] engine.  This was used as a personal transport by [[Air Vice-Marshal|AVM]] Sir [[Ralph Sorley]] but production models retained the 210&nbsp;hp (157&nbsp;kW) motor of earlier marks.
[[File:Percival Proctor V Manchester 1953.jpg|thumb|right|Proctor 5 of Field Aircraft services on a business flight to Manchester in 1953]]

At the end of the war, many early mark Proctors were sold on the civilian market and were operated in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The Mk&nbsp;IV continued in service with the RAF until the last was withdrawn in 1955.

In 1945, a civil model derived from the Proctor IV was put into production for private owner, business and light charter use as the Proctor 5. The RAF purchased four to be used by air attachés.

The final model of the line was the solitary Proctor 6 floatplane sold to the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] in 1946.

Three highly modified Percival Proctors, nicknamed the "Proctukas," were produced for the film ''[[Battle of Britain (film)|Battle of Britain]]'' as stand-ins for the [[Junkers Ju 87|Ju-87 Stuka]]. After test flights revealed instability, they were ultimately abandoned and never appeared in the film.

==Variants==
;P.28 Proctor I
:Three-seat dual-control communications and radio/navigation trainer for the Royal Air Force, 147 built.
;P.28 Proctor IA
:Three-seat dual-control deck landing and radio trainer the Royal Navy/Fleet Air Arm with dinghy stowage and naval instruments, 100 built.
;P.29 Proctor
:One aircraft converted to a light-bomber to carry 16 20lb bombs under the wings.
;P.30 Proctor II
:Three-seat radio trainer, 175 built (including 112 IIA aircraft for the Royal Navy)
;P.34 Proctor III
:Three-seat radio trainer for Bomber Command radio operators, 437 built.
;P.31 Proctor IV
:Four-seat radio trainer with enlarged fuselage, 258 built.
;Proctor 5
:Four-seat civil light aircraft, 150 built. [[RAF]] designation was '''Proctor C.Mk 5'''
;Proctor 6
:Floatplane version, 1 built.
;P.46
:A Proctor IV fuselage was modified with a new-wing built by Heston Aircraft as the [[Youngman-Baynes High Lift]] Monoplane.

==Operators==

===Civil===
Civil Proctors have been registered in the following countries; Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Gold Coast, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, New Zealand, Portugal, Rhodesia, South Africa, Southern Rhodesia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Transjordan, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States.<ref name="ab193">Gearing 2012, pp. 193–259.</ref>

===Military===
;{{AUS}}
*[[Royal Australian Air Force]]
**[[Governor-General's Flight RAAF]] operated one Proctor from 1945 to 1947.
;{{BEL}}
*[[Belgian Air Force]] - 4 P.31C delivered in June 1947, one in October and one in March 1948. Operated as liaison aircraft  by No 367 Sqdn until 1950.<ref>Jackson 1977, p. 75.</ref> Last withdrawn from use 1954.
;{{flag|Canada|1921}}
*[[Royal Canadian Air Force]] - Used by a number of Canadian units in the RAF as a communications aircraft.
;{{CZS}}
*[[Czechoslovakian Air Force]] in exile in the United Kingdom - One aircraft in service from 1944 to 1945.
;{{DEN}}
*[[Royal Danish Air Force]] (RDAF) operated six P.44 Mk. III between November 1945 and November 1951. First aircraft operated by RDAF after World War II.
;{{FRA}}
* [[Armée de l'Air]] - 18 Proctor IV received between September 1945 and May 1946 for use by ERN 703 (Radio Navigation School) in Pau. When the navigation training was transferred to Morocco in 1949 the Proctors were replaced by [[Avro Anson|Ansons]] and 16 Proctors went to the civil market.
;{{flag|Italy}}
*[[Italian Air Force]] one former civil Proctor V bought in 1954.
;{{JOR}}
*[[Royal Jordanian Air Force]]
;{{LBN}}
*[[Lebanese Air Force]]
;{{NLD}}
*[[Royal Netherlands Air Force]] - One Mk III was delivered in juin 1956, scrapped in February 1951, but the Koninklijke Luchtmacht also took delivery of 10 Proctor IV in juin 1947. Used as liaison aircraft they were all scrapped in October 1953.<ref>Jackson 1978, p. 96.</ref> 
;{{POL}}
*[[Polish Air Force in Great Britain]] operated a few aircraft (liaison duty). Example aircraft: DX190, LZ603.
;{{SYR}}
*[[Syrian Army]] - four Proctor IVs bought new in 1946.
;{{UK}}:
*[[Royal Air Force]]
**[[No. 24 Squadron RAF]]
**[[No. 31 Squadron RAF]]
**[[No. 117 Squadron RAF]]
**[[No. 173 Squadron RAF]]
**[[No. 267 Squadron RAF]]
**[[No. 510 Squadron RAF]]
**[[Middle East Communications Squadron]]
**[[No. 2 Radio School]]
**[[No. 4 Radio School]]
**[[No. 2 Signals School]]
**[[No. 4 Signals School]]
*[[Fleet Air Arm]]
**[[752 Naval Air Squadron]]
**[[754 Naval Air Squadron]]
**[[755 Naval Air Squadron]]
**[[756 Naval Air Squadron]]
**[[758 Naval Air Squadron]]
**[[771 NAS|771 Naval Air Squadron]]
;{{USA}}
*[[United States Army Air Forces]] - RAF aircraft loaned as communications aircraft for use in the United Kingdom.

===Notable Owners===
*[[Nevil Shute]] flew his Proctor from England to Australia and terminated the return flight in Italy, 1500 miles short of his goal, after a ground loop caused by a crosswind landing damaged the undercarriage. Italian bureaucracy delayed the importation of replacement parts and he was forced to return to England by commercial airline.

==Survivors==

===Flying===
Proctor Mk III ''G-ALJF'' and Proctor Mk IV ''G-ANXR'' (RAF number ''RM221'') are both airworthy and based at Biggin Hill.

G-ANXR now relocated to Headcorn after 35 years at Biggin Hill.

G-ALJF was unfortunately damaged in a landing accident at a private strip in Kent July 2012 and is awaiting repairs.

Proctor 5, "G-AKIU", initially owned by Rolls Royce Ltd as a corporate communications aircraft, is airworthy (2015), owned by Air Atlantique and operated as part of the [[Classic Air Force]], based at Coventry. For sale on Controller.com (as of 16 Nov. 2016)

Proctor Mk I ''ZK-DPP'', configured as a Vega Gull, and Proctor Mk Vs ''ZK-AQZ'' &  ''ZK-ARP'' are airworthy and flying in New Zealand.

===Under restoration===

Proctor III  ''LZ766'', built by Hills is displayed at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. 
Proctor IV ''NP294'' at the [[Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre]], East Kirkby.
Proctor IV ''G-AHTE'' at [[Clacton]] and [[Classic Air Force]].
Proctor IV ''G-AKIU'' are all under restoration to flying condition.

Proctor Mk III G-AOGE has been at Biggin Hill for at least 20 years. The airframe has been completely restored over this time with much new wood and modern glue, but it has lain in the corner of one of the hangars for the last five – six&nbsp;years, awaiting financing to restore its engine.
[[File:Percival P.31 Proctor IV NP184 G-ANYP Torbay 08.76.jpg|thumb|right|Proctor IV built by F. Hills & Son at Manchester Barton Aerodrome in early 1944. Displayed at the Torbay Museum in 1976.]]
Proctor IV NP184 (ex G-ANYP), displayed from 1972-1988 at the Torbay Aircraft Museum in Devon, England, and previously used for training purposes at Brooklands Technical College at Weybridge, Surrey, England, in the late 1960s/early 1970s is believed to survive in Australia with a private owner who acquired it in 1995.

Proctor I Z7212 G-AHFU VH-DUL VH-UXS.  Restoration to flying condition close to completion at Latrobe Valley Airframes and Welding, Victoria Australia.

===On display===
Proctor III ''[[Serial number|Z7197]]'' is on display at [[RAF Museum]], Hendon. Another Mark III is on show at the [http://www.raafawa.org.au/museum/aircraft/proctor/index.html RAAFAWA Museum], Bullcreek, near Perth, Western Australia.
Another Proctor is on display in the lobby of the Australian National Museum, Canberra.

==Specifications (Proctor IV)==
{{aircraft specifications
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[[Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Aircraft]] -->
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|plane or copter?=<!-- options: plane/copter -->plane
|jet or prop?=<!-- options: jet/prop/both/neither -->prop
|ref=The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II<ref name="Mondey">Mondey, David. ''The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II''. London: Chancellor Press, 1994. {{ISBN|1-85152-668-4}}.</ref>
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|crew=two/one
|capacity=one/two
|length main= 28 ft 2 in
|length alt= 8.59 m
|span main= 39 ft 6 in
|span alt= 12.04 m
|height main= 7 ft 3 in
|height alt= 2.21 m
|area main= 202 ft²
|area alt= 18.77 m²
|airfoil=
|empty weight main= 2,375 lb
|empty weight alt= 1,075 kg
|loaded weight main=
|loaded weight alt= kg
|useful load main= 
|useful load alt= kg
|max takeoff weight main= 3,500 lb
|max takeoff weight alt= 1,588 kg
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|engine (prop)=[[de Havilland Gipsy Queen]] II driving a
|type of prop=2-bladed propeller
|number of props=1
|power main= 210 hp
|power alt= 157 kW
|power original=
   
|max speed main= 139 knots
|max speed alt= 160 mph, 257 km/h
|cruise speed main= 122 knots
|cruise speed alt= 140 mph, 225 km/h
|never exceed speed main=
|never exceed speed alt= mph,  km/h
|stall speed main= 42 knots
|stall speed alt= 48 mph, 77 km/h <ref name ="ferry">''Air Transport Auxiliary Ferry Pilots Notes (reproduction)''.  Elvington, York, UK: Yorkshire Air Museum, 1996. {{ISBN|0-9512379-8-5}}.</ref>
|stall speed more= (flaps down)
|range main= 435 nm
|range alt= 500 mi, 805 km
|ceiling main= 14,000 ft
|ceiling alt= 4,265 m
|climb rate main= 700 ft/min
|climb rate alt= 3.6 m/s
|loading main= 
|loading alt= kg/m²
|thrust/weight=<!-- a unitless ratio -->
|power/mass main= 
|power/mass alt= 
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|armament=none
|avionics=

}}

==Notable appearances in media==
{{Main|Aircraft in fiction#Percival Proctor}}
The Proctor was mentioned in the song "Flying Doctor" by [[Hawklords]] (1978)

It was [[Biggles]]' main aircraft in the Air Police stories by [[W.E. Johns]]

Two Proctors were modified with angular gull wings to resemble [[Junkers Ju 87]] ''Stukas'' for the 1969 film ''[[Battle of Britain (film)|Battle of Britain]]'', and were dubbed ''Proctukas.''

==See also==
{{aircontent
<!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries

with carriage return. -->
|related=<!-- related developments -->
*[[Percival Gull]]
*[[Percival Vega Gull]]
*[[Youngman-Baynes High Lift]]
|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft -->
*[[Harlow PJC-2]]
*[[Messerschmitt Bf 108]]
*[[Miles Mercury]]
*[[Miles Messenger]]
|sequence=<!-- designation sequence, if appropriate -->
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
* [[List of aircraft of World War II]]
*[[List of aircraft of the RAF]]
*[[List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm]]
|see also=<!-- other relevant information -->

}}

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* Ellison, Norman H. ''Percivals Aircraft'' (The Archive Photographs Series). Chalford, Stroud, UK: Chalford Publishing Company, 1997. {{ISBN|0-7524-0774-0}}.
* Gearing, David. W. ''On the Wings of a Gull - Percival and Hunting Aircraft''. Stapleford, UK:[[Air-Britain|Air-Britain (Historians)]], 2012. {{ISBN|978-0-85130-448-9}}.
* Jackson Paul A. ''Belgian Military Aviation 1945-1977''. London: Midland Counties Publications, 1977. {{ISBN|0-904597-06-7}}.
* Jackson Paul A. ''Dutch Military Aviation 1945-1978''. London:  Midland Counties Publications, 1978. {{ISBN|0-904597-11-3}}.
* Percival, Robert. "A Portrait of Percival." ''Aeroplane Monthly'', Vol. 12, No. 9, September 1984.
* Scholefield, R.A. "Manchester's Early Airfields", an extended chapter in ''Moving Manchester''. Stockport, Cheshire, UK: Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 2004. ISSN 0950-4699.
* Silvester, John. "Percival Aircraft 1933–1954 (Parts 1–4)." ''Aeroplane Monthly'', Vol. 11, No. 1-4, January–April 1983.
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.caa.govt.nz/Script/AirReg1.asp?Class=Aeropl&Query1=Get+List New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority aircraft register]

{{Hunting Percival aircraft}}

[[Category:Hunting Percival aircraft|Proctor]]
[[Category:British military trainer aircraft 1930–1939]]
[[Category:British civil utility aircraft 1930–1939]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1939]]