During May 1948 Prentice VS251 crashed at Brough airfield during a pre-delivery test flight made by the Blackburn Aircraft Ltd.
Pilot - Name unknown.
Percival Prentice VS251 was built to contract 6/ACFT/622 by Blackburn Aircraft Ltd. at Brough and sustained minor damage in May 1948 during a test flight. The damage was repaired at Brough and it
was listed as awaiting collection on 24th December 1948. On 19th April 1949 it went to 9 MU at Cosford then on 18th May 1949 it went to Percival Aircraft Ltd. at Luton for modifications. On 25th May
1949 it was taken on charge by No.2 F.T.S. at South Cerney. On 4th September 1950 it went to the Central Flying School at Little Rissington. On 4th June 1951 it went to No.3 F.T.S. at Feltwell and on 1st
August 1952 it sustained Cat.B4 damage at Feltwell. This damage was later downgraded to Re.Cat.3R and it was repaired on site, being returned to No.3 F.T.S. charge once servicable. On 23rd September
1953 it went to 9 MU at Cosford and on 17th August 1955 it was declared a non-effective airframe. On 3rd November 1955 it went to 29 MU at High Ercall then on 19th June 1956 it was sold off to the civilian
market. On 11th April 1956 it was registered on the UK civilian register as G-AOKH. In October 1959 it was flown from Cosford to Southend where it was evaluated for banner towing by BMK Carpets Lambtex
Rugs. On 26th February 1960 it was registered to J.L.Tankard at Yeadon but around the same time it was converted to tow banners by Percival Aircraft Ltd. On 4th March 1960 it was first flown after this
conversion at Southend then eleven days later banner towing commenced. Over the next decade it was registered to Keith Baynes, John Hockley, James Roberts, Peter Louks and then to John Moore at Biggin Hill
in 1978. On 17th June 1992 it was placed in open storage at Biggin Hill and was still believed there a decade later.
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