Replica Percival New Gull - RAF Museum, Hendon, London, UK - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

The RAF Museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm with admission being free. Carparking is available but there is a charge. The nearest underground station is Colindale about a 10-15 minute walk away or a number 303 bus passes both the tube station and museum. The co-ordinates posted are for the entrance to the "Milestones of Flight" hall/exhibition entrance.

The museum's website tells us about the Percival Mew Gull aircraft:

The Percival Mew Gull G-AEXF designed by Captain Edgar W. Percival and produced in 1936. Alex Henshaw exchanged his de Havilland Leopard Moth for a Mew Gull in 1937, and achieved the fastest times in many air races and won the Folkestone Aero Trophy in the same year.

During this period Alex met Jack Cross of Essex Aero Ltd who made mechanical and structural alterations to XF in order to win the 1938 King's Cup. The effect was a dramatic increase in performance and resulted in winning success in the King's Cup at a speed of 380.2km/h (236.25mph). This record still stands to this day for British aircraft.

Alex then decided to attempt the solo records on the England to Cape Town route. He set off from Gravesend on 5 February 1939 and after four days returned having broken all records on this route. They remain unbroken to this day for an aircraft in this class. Each leg took 39 hours 23 minutes at an average speed of approximately 334.7km/h (208mph).

The Mew Gull was sold in the late summer of 1939 to a Frenchman. XF remained hidden from the Germans throughout World War Two occupation of France. It then passed through a number of different owners before eventually being bought by Robert Fleming in 2002. In 2014 the real G-AEXF is flying as part of the Shuttleworth Collection.

What makes this a milestone aircraft?

The Percival Mew Gull set the fastest time ever recorded for a British aircraft in the King's Cup air races and a world record time between London - Cape Town - London which in its class stands to this day.

A history of the aircraft can be seen here.

Type of Aircraft: (make/model): Percival Mew Gull Tail Number: (S/N): G-AEXF taken from the original Construction:: replica Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): RAF Musuem, Hendon, London inside / outside: inside Access restrictions: See the detailed description. Other Information:: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

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