Formation flight dc 3 percival pembroke and de havilland heron
Development
The Pembroke was a development of the Percival Prince civil transport. It had a longer wing to permit a higher fully laden weight. The prototype flew on 21 November 1952. Production was complete in early 1958.
Operational history
It entered service with the Royal Air Force as the Percival Pembroke C.1 in 1953 to replace the Avro Anson for light transport duties. As with other RAF transports, the passenger seats are rearward-facing for improved safety.
The Finnish Air Force operated two aircraft for aerial photography between 1956 and 1968, on behalf of the National Land Survey of Finland. One of the aircraft was destroyed when it hit a snow wall during landing in 1965. The other aircraft is currently stored at the Aviation Museum of Central Finland.
Variants
P.66 Pembroke C.1
Communications and transport variant for the RAF, 44 built.
P.66 Pembroke C(PR).1
Photographic reconnaissance variant for the RAF, six built and two conversions from C.1.
Pembroke C.1 WV740 (G-BNPH) is privately maintained in RAF markings in the UK (as of 2009) and gives flying displays.
Pembroke C.1 WV746 is currently housed in Hangar 1 at RAF museum Cosford. Ex CinC's Air Support Command VIP personal aircraft of 1960's and 1970's. Modified to carry wheelchair ramp. Later with 60 Squadron in Germany.
Pembroke C.51 s/n K66-B4001 is located at the Essex County Airport in Fairfield, New Jersey. The aircraft was built in 1953 and last served with the Belgium Air Force. The left engine is inoperable and the aircraft is damaged and in a deteriorated condition. It was offered as a warbird contest prize in spring 2009.
Pembroke C.51 s/n K66-4002 is on display at Taylor's Stateline Liquor Store in Neelyville, MO.
Belgian Air Force keeps its RM7 at their Melsbroek premises just across the military air terminal; its sister RM4 is in the Brussels Aviation Museum.
Classic Air Force at Coventry Airport, England operate Pembroke C.1 G-BXES painted as XL954 in RAF Transport Command Livery.
Pembroke SE-BKH (ex RAF XK884) is at Västerås Flygmuseum, Sweden, in airworthy condition with Swedish markings.
Pembroke C.52/Tp 83, Swedish Flygvapnet 83007 is displayed at Svedinos Bil- och Flygmuseum, Ugglarp, Halland, Sweden.
Pembroke C.54s 54+21 and 54+24 are at Flugausstellung Hermeskeil, Rheinland Pfalz, Germany.
Pembroke C.54 54+08 is on display at Aeronauticum, adjacent to Nordholz Naval Airbase, Germany.
Pembroke C.54 54+02 is displayed at Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum, Germany, marked as "D-CAKE".
