Formed in 1932 by E. W. Percival and E. W. B. Leake at
Gravesend, Kent, moving to Luton, Bedfordshire, in 1937.
Built series of successful light aircraft beginning with the
single-engine Gull and later twin-engine Q-6 six/sevenseat
cabin monoplane. Percival Gulls were used for a
number of record-breaking flights, and the type was developed
into the Proctor light
Proctor
communications aircraft. Several
Mew Gull racers were built in the late 1930s. After
Second World War, production of the Proctor continued for civilian customers, while a new three-seat trainer, the Prentice,
appeared in 1946 and was built in quantity for the
RAF and several overseas air forces. It was followed by
the Provost trainer, ordered for the RAF in 1951. Following
the experimental Merganser light transport of 1946,
a larger version, the Prince, flew in 1948 and was produced
in civil and military versions. The company's name
was changed in 1954 to Hunting Percival Aircraft.
