Edgar Wickner Percival

Edgar Wikner Percival (born February 23, 1897 in Albury , Australia , † January 21, 1984 ) was a British pilot and aircraft designer.

Life

Edgar Wikner Percival was the grandchild of Pontus Wikner . After graduating from Sydney Technical College, he studied at Sydney University .

Percival served during the First World War, first in the 7th Australian Light Horse, later in the Royal Flying Corps in No. 60 squ. on the Western Front - at times under Billy Bishop  - and at No. 111 Squ. in the middle east. During his RAF service in Egypt, he constructed an aircraft based on the Bristol F.2B , which he flew and tested himself. Eventually he was promoted to the rank of captain .

After demobilization in Egypt, he bought three surplus RAF aircraft (two Avros and one DH6) and shipped them to Australia. He then operated a charter airline with the aircraft. In 1924 the Australian Aviation Club announced a competition for the most advanced light aircraft that Percival could win. He received 94% of the total £ 1000 premium. Furthermore, he was able to win some air races during this time, such as the Melbourne Herald Air Race .

In 1929 he returned to Great Britain to become a test pilot for the Aviation Department. While working for the Bristol Airplane Company, he designed and built the prototype of the Percival Vega Gull in 1930 , the first cantilever low-wing aircraft in the British Empire .

His extensive experience in the design and operation of aircraft and not least the commercial success of the Gull led to the founding of Percival Aircraft Co. in 1933 . Percival was chief designer and company director rolled into one. His designs impressed with their clear lines and high performance. On a record flight with a Percival Gull Four, it took Charles Kingsford Smith only 7 days, 4 hours and 50 minutes to get from England to Australia.

Further records with the Vega Gull were set by the New Zealand pilot Jean Batten , for example in 1936 on the England – New Zealand route. Your Vega Gull is on display at Auckland International Airport .

During the Second World War Percival went to the United States and in 1944 sold its shares in Percival Aircraft Ltd. to the Hunting Group. In 1948 he became a US citizen. In 1954, Percival decided to partner with Edgar Percival Aircraft Ltd. to become self-employed again in order to realize further own ideas.

literature

• Robert Percival: A Portrait of Percival. In: Airplane Monthly, September 1984, p. 463 ff.