Edgar Wikner Percival (1897-1984) A.M.I.Ae.E., an Australian aviator and designer.
1897 Born in Australia.
Educ.: Sydney High School.
1913 Connected with the Hart Aviation Co. of Sydney
1912-13 built and flew gliders
WWI Served during the War in the Australian Light Horse, R.F.C. and R.A.F. in France, Palestine and Egypt, until 1920
Has operated aircraft as a general commercial business on photographic surveys, etc.
1926-9 Agent for A. V. Roe and Co. in Australia.
Member of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators of the British Empire.
1929 Capt. Edgar Percival, at his own expense, developed the specification for a cabin monoplane called the Hendy 302 which was built by George Parnall and Co. Basil B. Henderson also contributed to the design, researching the cantilever wings; H. A. Miles worked on the stressing[1].
1930 Percival flew the aircraft in the 1930 King's Cup Race[2]. Only one prototype was built but it helped to introduce the low-wing cantilever form of aircraft design.
Designer of the Percival Gull, and the Saro Percival Mail carrier.
1933 Formed E. W. Percival
1936 Incorporated Percival Aircraft Co with Lt-Cmd E. W. B. Leake in Gravesend.
The company was subsequently restructured as Percival Aircraft Ltd and moved to Luton.
1939 Residing at Westminster, MD of Percival Aircraft Co.[3]
1954 He started a new company (Edgar Percival Aircraft) at Stapleford Tawney, Essex