Jean Batten's Percival Gull

The tower has had major structural changes a couple of times.

See Papa Lima’s post for dates on the Gull.

Thank you.

The tower has had major structural changes a couple of times.

See Papa Lima’s post for dates on the Gull.

When was the tower changed? When did the Pervical Gull depart?

[Copy of my post over at Plane Talk]

Hmmm.

I have to admit feeling torn on this one. While Dave makes a good case for its preservation and protection, on the other hand I know where I’ve enjoyed seeing the aircraft – in the air.

For those not as lucky as me, I’ve dug out a few pics from a while ago at Old Warden. There’s even some nostaligia for as timeless a place as Old Warden as it was…

Pilot’s position. Despite looking like a conventional cabin aircraft, the pilot sits up front on the spar, with the compass alongside, and two seats behind.

Who says product placement sponsorship’s a new thing?

In good record breaking Percival company. With Alex Henshaw’s Mew Gull. Percivals for ever! (Note the ‘old’ tower, now at Breighton.)

Shapely:

And it flew.

Taxiing back in:

On this occasion being flown by the late Angus McVittie, Shuttleworth pilot, sometime Optica and Spitfire pilot also.

Being dismantled for a trip to NZ.

Many years ago, I did a set of ink drawings for cards of significant preserved airworthy aircraft. I only completed three: Black 6, the Nieuport 28 and this one.

I liked it a lot even then.

Hi Dave The Percival Gull did fly in New Zealand, or at least it was supposed to. I cannot recall when, but I can remember going out with my camera for the shot of a lifetime, However it was not to be, I never even saw it. It is possible that it went U S and never got off the ground.

Can confirm the Gull was in the back of a Hunting Percivals Hangar at Luton during the late 50’s. I had a good look at it.

Restoration

The aeroplane wasn’t as bad as it looks.

Simply looks awful as the fabric has been stripped and they’re down to the wood. While the aeroplane needed restoration, she had been in Shuttleworth’s hands for many year and was always very well cared for.

Have to echo the sentiments about her no longer flying. Be it in the UK or New Zealand, she should still have the chance to take to the air.

BW,

Phil

Thanks Cestrian,

Wow that aircraft looked lovely out in the sun!

The picture of it prior to restoration looks rather horrific, the team did a fantastic job. How on earth did such an important aircraft get into such a state?

I agree, particularly having seen your photos, that the Gull would be nice to see still flying, but because it is such an important piece of New Zealand’s history I’m glad it is not being put at risk and is being well cared for today in a place that appreciates it. I think it is important as Richard Pearse’s aircraft at Motat and the RNZAF’s Avro 626 in our aviation heritage, and on a par with the Spirit of St Louis, Wright Flyer or Southern Cross as museum pieces.

Thinking about it, it is funny how most of the great record-breaking planes have survived when other types have not. Is this just fluke or was there actually some awareness of the need to preserve way back in the 1920’s and 1930’s as well?

Thanks for the lovely photos.
Dave

A series of photos of G-ADPR flying at Old Warden in August 1990.This aircraft should still be flying,and not gathering dust in an Airport Terminal.Aircrft is being flown here by the the late Angus Macvitie.

And one of G-ADPR at Old Warden after her rebuild taken in August 1991

Here is a pic of G-ADPR at the start of her rebuild at Old Warden October1986

Talking to my brother the other week, he reminded me that our late father served his apprenticeship at Percivals in the 30’s. I remember him talking about working on the Gulls and the Mew Gulls. He certainly had a life long admiration for Jean Batten.

enk

Jean wrote a book on her early flying career, ‘My Life’ published in 1938. It was revised and reissued as ‘Alone in the Sky’ in 1979.

From http://www.auckland-airport.co.nz/NewsHistory/aviators.php?gull

The first Percival Gull, built in 1932, was considered highly advanced when it first appeared. Its sleek looks contrasted with the biplanes typical of the period. Jean Batten’s three seater version, of which there were only 19, was built in 1935 and is now hanging behind you. It cost her 1750 pounds sterling, “every penny I owned”.

The monoplane was constructed of wood and fabric and has a wingspan of 11.02 metres and a length of 7.6 metres. It made many record breaking flights until war broke out in 1939 when it was requisitioned by the Royal Air Force as a communication aircraft bearing the designation AX866.

Percival Aircraft, designers and manufacturers of the Gull, (later to become the Hunting Group) bought the plane in 1946 at the end of the war. The Company used it only intermittently, so in April 1961 the Group presented it to the Shuttleworth Trust to join their collection of historical aircraft.

The Gull was flown occasionally on public display days until it required major restoration. This was sponsored by the Hunting Group in association with the Shuttleworth Trust and began in 1987. It was a massive task to make this historic aircraft completely airworthy again.

Auckland International Airport Limited borrowed the plane to be displayed in The International Terminal during 1990 for New Zealand’s 150th anniversary celebrations which coincided with the 25th anniversary of the opening of Auckland International Airport.

After its return to England, the Airport Company negotiated to purchase the Percival Gull G-ADPR. The last time it flew was over Auckland in 1996 to mark the sixtieth anniversary of Jean Batten’s record breaking flight between England and Auckland.