Percival Proctor I pilot notes…

Sorry to those interested in this thread for not posting any photographs once we had the aircraft flying.

I managed to get some pilots notes relating to the MkI through MkIII, and from that things went well. The aircraft flew extremely well (leaves a MkV for dead as well as a lot of more modern machines) and now has approx 25 hours under its wings.

I will post some shots in the next day or two and see what the general thoughts are.

I understand you have been in contact with us at Croydon Ross, I’m sure we can help and will be in touch in due course with drawings and/or photographs, pretty sure we have drawings though (I’ll see what the boss says).

PROCTOR Mk.1 VH-AHY rebuild

Hello

Leigh pays a visit every now and again – we are mates, unfortunately he broke his wrists a couple of years back and the recovery has been slow. Leigh gets hyperactive when he sees progress.

I don’t have any detailed drawings for the couple of formers in the cockpit roof. I have the old roof formers, however they are damaged and having never seen a proctor in the flesh, I don’t have a good idea about this area.

Basically I am looking for information from the former at the front of the door to the back of the rear seat.

Any images of inside the fuselarge (front and rear would be appreciated).

In particular I am trying to track down the constructors drawings for the formers making up the roof about the cabin area.

regards
Ross Stenhouse

Ross,

fantastic to see a new Proctor fuselage under construction, I am sure Leigh would be green with envy, but pleased to see the progress you are making.

Let me know exactly what details at the rear of the cockpit you are seeking and I will see what Hi Res digital photos I can take for you of VH-AUC at Moorabbin, (and if required I can see if I can get access to DUL if required as well??)

http://www.aarg.com.au/Proctor.htm

regards

Mark Pilkington

Rebuilding Proctors

Did your proctor come from Ross Shepard in Brisbane? Have a look at the stand for the centre section in the image I put up. Did you ever get the notes you are looking for.

I have a 2 x CD which I have put together with a few hundred PDF files of construntion drawings, some scans that I have done of the notes and maintenance manual.

As you likely know, proctors were built from assemblys constructed in furnature factories and and thus the level of detail in the drawings is quite high. The drawings I have were originally from Ernie Clarke in NZ (its stamped on the drawings). If your Proctor is the one I think it is, then the drawings you have were printed by me.

Leigh Giles sold his proctor project to someone in NZ. Has there been any progress on that project. Mine moves at a slow pace, but it does move. I know a lot about the construction of Proctors, especially in the centre section and tail feathers. I am becomming quite familar with the construction techniques used in the fuselage.

Any chance you can put up some more images of the fuselage whilst you had the skin of? It would be of assistance.

regards
Ross Stenhouse

We just finished one here at Croydon Aircraft Company in New Zealand.

Just get in touch and we can have a chat about things.

PROCTOR Mk.1 VH-AHY rebuild

I am hoping to make contact with people who can help me with information and photos that can be of assistance to me with my rebuild project. I have been working on this rebuild for some time and have rebuilt the centre section, and tail feathers. I am working on the fuselage now and need images of the rear of the cockpit. I have hundreds of constructors drawings, a maintenance manual, the pilots notes etc.

thanks
Ross Stenhouse

The flat windscreen was a standard pre-war Percival feature until the later Vega Gulls when the round windscreen was introduced and then it was I understand “customers choice”.

The Proctor marks 1 to 3 were all Military order aircraft derived from the Vega Gull design but with structural differences, for service in WW2, and all were delivered with the curved or round windscreen with some having small clear vision windows fitted into the windscreen, I am not aware of any Proctors being built by Percival with the earlier flat windsceen.

The Proctor mark 4 and 5 were primarily post war civil market designs although a number of these also flew with Military services, again I am not aware of any being delivered with the pre-war flat windscreen or offered with such?

(I was a partner with Leigh Giles in “our” Wackett Trainer project, and was involved in his Percival collecting from the outset, so I have had a great exposure to, education of, Percival and Proctor details – smiles)

regards

Mark Pilkington

Thanks for posting the ATA notes Atcham Tower.

As to the front windscreen on the Proctor, it may not be the original for the aircraft (the original being the curved/round type), of which we still have the original and several others, but the angular design was available as an option as I understand from Percival particularly for aircraft to be used in racing.

Anyone feel free to correct me if Im wrong, but it was a little verbal information I have come across whilst doing research, I have seen nothing in print to confirm this but it seems a feasible idea.

Will try again with pilots notes!

Attached are the summary RAF Ferry Pilots/ATA for the Proctor which may be of use.

The early windscreen was fitted as part of this current restoration, and while I enjoy the Proctor in its original form we have a suitable number of these mk1 – mk 3 Proctors preserved as statics in Australia as well as a mark 1 under long term restoration to fly so I cant complain too much about this conversion.

I suspect the original “round” windscreen has been retained and could be refitted through a subsequent restoration? should a future owner wish to do so?

regards

Mark Pilkington

Thanks for posting! what a beautiful aircraft! 🙂 🙂
I look forward to seeing this one fly, ( the best of luck with the paperwork 😉 )
If you don’t mind me asking, when was this proctor converted to vega gull standard? Is this recent or does this have a historical backgroud?
(I’m not trying to say it’s not original, just curious. I like the vega gull more than the proctor anyway 🙂 )

Sweet. Can I have it for Christmas Dad?

Lovely aircraft!!better than new!!
A big well done to all concerned….fantastic!!!!!! 🙂

Hi everyone,

The aircraft hasnt flown as of yet due to delays with the permit to fly from NZ CAA, but we are only a few days away I would imagine.

I will post some first flight shots as soon as it does.

This Proctor has the slanted front windscreen as well as different rear windows which essentially makes it a Vega Gull, as mentioned above there isnt a lot between the earlier models other than seating configuration.

The only reason I have been asking for Proctor 1 handling notes is not for the test flying its purely to keep CAA happy about their being no differences essentially between the earlier models so we can get a official flight manual done (it can be difficult convincing them.

I will be test flying the machine very soon and I will give you a run down on what its like (comparing with the Proctor 5), Ill post some pictures, and perhaps a short video clip.

Heres a teaser anyway…….

Just for information the aircraft is mechanically finished but cosmetically not, the registration is temporary and still needs to be added full span on the wings, there is a little sign writing to do on the cowls (maybe Castrol insignia) and there may be a Kings Cup emblem on the tail, more polishing, more polishing, more polishing, more polishing etc etc

I understand this aircraft may have already flown, but it is certainly a airworthy restoration that is now very recently completed!

regards

Mark Pilkington

This is former Australian registered Proctor mark I VH-BCX, fitted with the pre-war sloping flat panel windscreen of the Vega Gull series

I’m even more interested now! I particularly like the flat panel windscreen as I think it looks more art deco than the rounded windscreen of the later vega gulls and proctors. If this baby flies could someone please post some pictures?

This is former Australian registered Proctor mark I VH-BCX, fitted with the pre-war sloping flat panel windscreen of the Vega Gull series.

I have had a good log chat with Leigh (Giles, and he is doing well for any who know him) and confirmed the Mark I is essentially a dual control evolution of the pre-war vega gull (the last of which had round windscreens) but with different fuselage frame positions and a slightly wider and longer fuselage.

The Mark II Proctor differed from the Mark I primarily in removing the dual control and placing the radio equipment in the rear set with the operator facing it, while the Mark III Proctor repositioned the radio gear on to the top of the centresection @ where the front passenger seat is with the operator in the back facing it.

All three are the same airframe with minor differences of engine generator bumps on the cowls, or inspection panels underneath for dual control or single control systems or for naval Mk II’s the location of the dinghy.

As he pointed out once a Proctor I, II or III is civilianised back to 4 passenger seats they are all really identical and it simply becomes a weight and loading issue to utilise the mark III pilots notes for any of them.

regards

Mark Pilkington

I’m afraid I won’t be able to help with the pilot notes or manuals, But can I ask which aircraft this is ? I love percivals and a new airworthy proctor 1 sounds like music to my ears 🙂

Thanks Mark,

I have come across some Proctor I & II notes by chance today, but would definately welcome anything you come across. Would be interesting to hear what Leigh has to say as he was instrumental in acquiring this particular Proctor if Im not mistaken.