British Trainer Adopted By Argentine Air Force

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26982, 18 January 1949, Page 5

British Trainer Adopted By Argentine Air Force

A contract worth nearly £1,000,000 for a substantial number of Percival Prentices has recently been signed in Buenos Aires between the Argentine Government and Percival Aircraft, Ltd. The Argentine Government has also acquired the licence to manufacture these trainers in its own country in addition to the aircraft being delivered to them off the Luton production line. As a result, the Prentice is being introduced as the standard basic trainer for the Argentine Air Force, which is the third country to select this aircraft for these duties, the others being Britain (for the Royal Air Force) and India.

Provision is made for a crew of three, two students and one instructor. The latter and one student are seated side by side with dual controls, while the second student is seated immediately aft on the central line of the aircraft, no controls being fitted at this station. The most modern feature of the Prentice is the comprehensive radio equipment, which includes not only VHF, but also s’ttndard beam approach for blind landings in bad weather conditions. As a result, the student can be taught the use of radio aids in the earliest stages of training, and flying instruction can be carried out under all conditions of weather.