Prospector EP. 9

history

In 1954, Edgar Percival formed Edgar Percival Aircraft Limited at Stapleford Aerodrome, England, his original company had become part of the Hunting Group. His first new design, the Edgar Percival P.9 was a utility aircraft designed for agricultural use. The aircraft was a high-wing monoplane with an unusual pod and boom fuselage. The pod and boom design allowed the aircraft to be fitted with a hopper for crop spraying. The pilot and one passenger sat together with room for four more passengers. The clamshell side and rear doors also allowed the aircraft to carry standard size wool and straw bales or 45 imperial gallon (55 U.S. gallon) oil drums or even livestock. Even when the hopper was fitted, a ground crew of three could be carried when moving between sites.

XM819

XM819 is one of two Prospectors evaluated by the Army Air Corps. Their American made engines made their purchase price unattractive given the then-extravagant import duties which prevailed. Its unusual configuration guarantees that visitors will stop and look at it. The aircraft on display at the museum is a composite of G-APXW, a freighter and the tail section of XM797. Since G-APXW was powered by a GO-480-G1, it has the incorrect three-bladed propeller and downward ejector exhausts.

XM 819's history adapted fromThe Daily Kos.