59t>

FLIGHT.

DECEMBER 16,

1937.

THE PERCIVAL "TWINS

//

The O4 and 0 6 Monoplanes : Choice of Engine and Undercarriage Installations Cruising at 185 m.ph. with Two Gipsy Six lis

H E elegance which has always been associated with the Percival monoplanes is well preserved, and even enhanced, in two recently announced additions to the range. But whereas our ears have hitherto been regaled with delightful names of ornithological derivation, the newcomers will be known as the Q4 and Q6, depending on whether the engines are Gipsy Major l i s or Gipsy Six

compartment are the same in each case. The span of the Q6 is, however, 2ft. 8in. greater than that of the smaller machine. In principle the wing construction follows standard Percival practice. There are two closely spaced box spars with plywood webs, spruce flanges and stiffeners of spruce placed quite close together and connected by a

l i s . Captain Percival considers that he has very good r e a s o n s for adopting this system of nomenclature. The two new Percival models belong to a class of aircraft in the construction of which Great Britain has always excelled: they are low-powered twin-engined machines calculated to appeal to the well-to-do private owner and to the air-line operator for feeder or charter work. Quite apart from these qualifications they have obvious applications in a military air service, notably for training. A large number of parts are interchangeable between the two models, and the dimensions of the cabin and luggage

The "backbone " of the Percival Q6 showing the box type of fuselage construction and the framework beneath the ply - covered nose,