Percival Prentice T1 - RAF Museum, Hendon, London, UK
N 51° 35.845 W 000° 14.263
30U E 691311 N 5719878
This Percival Prentice T1 is located in the "Bomber Hall" hall at the RAF Museum in Hendon. The aircraft dates from 1949.
Waymark Code: WMNH2B
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 03/16/2015
Views: 2
The RAF Museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm with admission being free. Car parking 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 RAF Museum's website tells us about the Percival Prentice T1:
A total of 349 production standard Percival P.40 Prentice Tiger Moth replacement two-(originally three) seat basic trainer aircraft were built for RAF. As the RAF's first side-by-side basic trainer, Prentices were delivered 1947-49, serving as trainers until late 1953 and for training air signallers until mid-1956, being replaced by the Percival Provost. A grand total of 483 Prentices were built including some for Argentina, Lebanon and India.
In May 1956 the RAF Museum's aircraft was one of 252 Prentices sold to the late Sir Freddie Laker's Aviation Traders Ltd at Southend, for conversion as a civilian touring aircraft, making them the world's 8th or 9th largest air force at the time!
However, the somewhat underpowered and fuel-guzzling Prentice was outperformed and outsold by more modern American types. The RAF Museum's aircraft was one of only 19 Prentices actually sold by Laker; most ended their days piled up for scrap at Southend Airport.
A history of the plane can be seen here.