Percival Pembroke

The Percival Pembroke was a British high-wing twin-engined light transport aircraft built by the Percival Aircraft Company, later Hunting Percival.

Development
The Pembroke was a development of the Percival Prince civil transport. It had a longer wing to permit a higher fully laden weight. The prototype flew on 21 November 1952. Production was complete in early 1958.

Operational history
It entered service with the Royal Air Force as the Percival Pembroke C.1 in 1953 to replace the Avro Anson for light transport duties. As with other RAF transports passenger seats are rearward facing for improved safety.

Six were produced as the Pembroke C(PR).1 photographic reconnaissance aircraft. these saw use by No. 81 Squadron RAF during the Malayan Emergency. The RAF's Pembrokes were modified to extend their lifespan in 1970. The last unit to use them was No. 60 Squadron RAF based at RAF Wildenrath in Germany, these were withdrawn from use in 1988 and were replaced by the Hawker Siddeley Andover.

The Finnish Air Force operated two aircraft for aerial photography between 1956 to 1968, on behalf of the National Land Survey of Finland. One of the aircraft was destroyed when it hit a snow wall during landing in 1965. The other aircraft is currently stored at the Aviation Museum of Central Finland.

Survivors
Pembroke C.1 WV740 (G-BNPH) is privately maintained in RAF markings in the UK (as of 2009) and gives flying displays. Pembroke C.1 " WV746 is currently housed in Hangar 1 at RAF museum Cosford. Ex CinC's Air Support Command  VIP personal aircraft of 1960's and 1970's.  Modified to carry wheelchair ramp.  Later with 60 Sqdn, Germany. Pembroke Mk. 51 s/n K66-B4001 is located at the Essex County Airport in Fairfield, New Jersey. The aircraft was built in 1953 and last served with the Belgium Air Force. The left engine is inoperable and the aircraft is damaged and in a deteriorated condition. It was offered as a warbird contest prize in spring 2009.

Pembroke Mk 51 s/n K66-4002 is on display at Taylor's Stateline Liquor Store in Neelyville, MO.

Belgian Air Force keeps its RM7 at their Melsbroek premises just across the military air terminal; its sister RM4 is in the Brussels Aviation Museum.

Air Atlantique Classic Flight at Coventry Airport, England operate Pembroke C.1 G-BXES painted as XL954 in RAF Transport Command Livery.

Pembroke SE-BKH (ex RAF XK884) is at Västerås Flygmuseum, Sweden, in airworthy condition with Swedish markings.

Pembroke C52/Tp 83, Swedish Flygvapnet 83007 is displayed at Svedinos Bil- och Flygmuseum, Ugglarp, Halland, Sweden.

Pembrokes C54 54+21 and 54+24 are at Flugausstellung Hermeskeil, Rheinland Pfalz, Germany.

Pembroke C54 54+08 is on display at Aeronauticum, adjacent to Nordholz Naval Airbase, Germany.

Pembroke C54 54+02 is displayed at Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum, Germany, marked as "D-CAKE".

Pembroke C54 AS+558 / 54+07 is displayed at Militärhistorisches Museum Flugplatz Berlin-Gatow, Germany.

Variants

 * P.66 Pembroke C.1
 * Communications and transport variant for the RAF, 44 built.


 * P.66 Pembroke C(PR).1
 * Photographic reconnaissance variant for the RAF, 6 built and 2 conversions from C.1.


 * P.66 Pembroke C51
 * export variant for Belgium.


 * P.66 Pembroke C52
 * export variant for Sweden. Swedish military designation Tp 83.


 * P.66 Pembroke C53
 * export variant for Finland.


 * P.66 Pembroke C54
 * export variant for West Germany.


 * P.66 Pembroke C55
 * export variant for Sudan


 * P.66 President
 * Civil transport version, 5 built.

Operators

 * Belgian Air Force (12 x C51 operated from 1954 to 1976)
 * Royal Danish Air Force
 * Finnish Air Force
 * Luftwaffe
 * German Army
 * German Navy
 * 🇲🇼 Malawi
 * Military of Malawi
 * Rhodesia
 * South Rhodesian Air Force two C.1 aircraft diverted from Royal Air Force contract.
 * Swedish Air Force
 * Sudanese Air Force
 * Royal Air Force - 56 delivered from 1953
 * No. 21 Squadron RAF
 * No. 32 Squadron RAF
 * No. 60 Squadron RAF
 * No. 70 Squadron RAF
 * No. 78 Squadron RAF
 * No. 81 Squadron RAF
 * No. 84 Squadron RAF
 * No. 152 Squadron RAF
 * No. 207 Squadron RAF
 * No. 209 Squadron RAF
 * No. 267 Squadron RAF
 * Empire Test Pilots' School
 * Zambian Air Force
 * No. 84 Squadron RAF
 * No. 152 Squadron RAF
 * No. 207 Squadron RAF
 * No. 209 Squadron RAF
 * No. 267 Squadron RAF
 * Empire Test Pilots' School
 * Zambian Air Force
 * Zambian Air Force