Edgar Percival - Second World War

Second World War

In 1938 with war imminent, Percival developed a military communications and R/T operator training version of the Vega Gull known as the Proctor. This rugged three-seater was powered by a 205 hp Gipsy Queen II engine. During the Second World War, a great deal of Proctor production was sub-contracted out and the designs of other firms, including the Airspeed Oxford and de Havilland Mosquito were, in turn, produced by Percival Aircraft at Luton. In March 1940, Capt. Percival resigned from the company, his dual roles being taken up by Capt. P.D. Acland (formerly Aviation Manager of Vickers Ltd.) who was appointed Managing Director and Arthur Bage becoming the Chief Designer. During the war years, Percival served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

in September 1944, Percival Aircraft was bought out by Hunting & Son Ltd and Edgar Percival sold his interest in his company and moved to the United States to continue work on engine technology. From 1954, his original company began trading under the name Hunting Percival Aircraft Ltd. although the Percival name was finally dropped from the company title in 1957.

Read more about this topic:  Edgar Percival

Famous quotes containing the words world and/or war:

    “The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point, however, is to change it.”
    —Karl Marx (1818–1883)

    “There is something to be said for government by a great aristocracy which has furnished leaders to the nation in peace and war for generations; even a Democrat like myself must admit this. But there is absolutely nothing to be said for government by a plutocracy, for government by men very powerful in certain lines and gifted with the “money touch,” but with ideals which in their essence are merely those of so many glorified pawnbrokers.”
    —Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919)