Percival Merganser
The Percival Merganser was a light civil transport aircraft of the British manufacturer Percival Aircraft Co.
History and construction
The Merganser was a twin-engined high-wing monoplane with retractable tricycle landing gear and fully clad with metal. She was designed for five people with an emphasis on maximum comfort for the passengers. For this purpose it was designed with high-set wings and tricycle landing gear to allow passengers the best possible visibility and ease of entry and loading.
The hull was - after its construction was completed in November 1946 - shipped by train and ferry to Paris to be shown on the air show. At this time, however, the project was already doomed to failure, since the use of de Havilland Gipsy Queen engines was provided this or suitable replacement but no more were available. The first flight on May 9, 1947, more test flights were carried out only with borrowed by the Ministry of Supply engines. However, the extensive flight tests provided valuable data for the development of the Percival Prince and Percival Pembroke. The second prototype was used only for statistical testing and never flew.
Variants
- P.48 Merganser, five-to eight -seat transport aircraft
- P.48A Merganser, scheduled seaplane variant
- P.48B Merganser, planned version with skids
- P.49 Merganser II, scheduled aerial survey variant