I can see where you got the idea, but this is not a Percival - or even British.

Now I have the literary allusion, there is a similarity in role between the mystery aircraft and Harry Percy's namesake, or his Anglo Saxon relatives.

My location is not too far from Hamstead Norreys, one of several local airfields busy on the night of June 5/6 some years ago.

I'm thinking glider, German;

Wild guess: Gotha 345

Not German. Right wartime, I believe it never saw active service.

Not Australian or Swedish (I didn't know Oz made any similaer types - must do some research).

Now, you mentioned Mussolini...............

Fitter 2's challenge
 

Would that be the Aeronautica Lombarda AL 12P?
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c6...bardaAL12P.jpg

Right country, wrong aircraft.

Possibly the MM510 or 511 by Costruzioni Aeronautiche Taliedo? Of the 2 I would plump for the 511 of which there used to be an example at Museo della Scienza e della Tecnica di Milano.

Yes the CAT TM2, reg no 511. The museum example below:

http://i24.tinypic.com/dg6olv.jpg

I have a contemporary pic at my other location I will post. Obscure enough to be a challenge?

It's all yours.

Fitter 2's challenge
 

:ok: That was a great challenge.:D I learnt a great deal from that, i.e. I wasn't aware that the Italians had built any gliders. Keep them coming.
Mel

Thank you Mel. It is a real challenge to post a cockpit not instantly recognisable by you or Bri.

A picture as promised of the CAT TM2 in its proper timeframe:

http://i20.tinypic.com/161jqsj.jpg

Would someone clue in a dum colonial about H. Percy?:confused:
Woods

Fitter2's challenge.
 

That was really interesting.

I saw the glider in the the museum when I lived in Italy.

Also knew an ex Italian paratrooper, dead now I am afraid, who had some fantastic photo's of it from his days in the service. Well, if not this one then of the same model. He claimed to hate it as he had to jump from it, but he still had the photo's prominently displayed in his home in Treviso.

Having said that, I still did not recognise the challenge. :\

H.Percy.
 

It is I believe in relation to Shakespeare's Play Henry V. The Percy family seeks to initiate a rebellion against King Henry IV and sounds out Lord Henry Percy, surnamed Hotspur, their most formidable knight. Northumberland (another Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland) and Worcester (Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester) try to explain their plans to him. Hotspur is so hot blooded that he explodes and goes off on a tangent at each point where they try to unfold their plot. With his fanatical view of on honor, Hotspur, as crazy as Don Quixote, forms a dramatic contrast with Falstaff.
As I understood it Jenkins thought the cockpit was that of the General Aviation Hotspur glider and referred to it as a Percy. I see he has since deleted his original post. I could of course be totally wrong :)

As you said, S'land, an interesting challenge and remarkable that there is a survivor. I once knew an Italian Air Force Ten Col WW2 fighter pilot who had something like 29 victories over allied aircraft. He showed me his log books and, in 1941, he flew captured Hurricanes and Spitfires. His collection of memoribila was huge and I hope that it has now passed to a worthwhile repository.
This next challenge should not cause any difficulty and is included because of the uniqueness of the panel layout.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...pitquiz504.jpg

Reading left to right, VSI, ASI, T&S, RPM and Oil Pressure(?), with compass (?) below.

But no Altimeter. Is that significant?

In the context of this aircraft, quite probably but do not get led astray by this.

WW II German, something like the Fw 189?

WW2, German and nothing like the FW 189

larssnowpharter's challenge
 

Please check PMs.
Mel

Flettner 282 Kolibri?

I have a feeking it was one of the German helicopters, how about the Focke Achelis FA-223?

Brings to mind the machine occasionally carried by U-boats as a towed spotter aircraft. I agree with LowNSlow that it might have been a Focke design. Achgelis 330 perhaps?

Kitbag has it. It is indeed the Flettner 282 Kolibri. :D
Mel informed me that it had appeared earlier however, I did not have it on my (admittedly old) list so my apologies if this spoiled it for anyone.
Here it is in action
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...kolibri_12.jpg

You have control, sir.

Thanks Lars. This photo of a scale model of the Kolibri should be a little clearer of the cockpit glazing when fitted:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...282_Modell.jpg

Wikipedia has some more images for those interested

OK, this one hasn't appeared before according to the list.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...eston/WC17.jpg

To narrow the field a little, WW1, French?

I was getting worried then! Is Mel ok?

To answer the question- a gnats crotchet later and rather more perfidious

In that case I'll try Avro 504, although it looks too basic for that, as well as being too simple an answer in this expert thread..

but it's the only one I can think of!

Thanks kitbag :). I am fine just biding my time :)

Sorry not the 504, it certainly looks basic, but was probably no different to most other aircraft of its type.

Kitbag's challenge
 

The Vickers Viking flying boat. The photo shows a Canadian Air Force Viking, purchased in 1923.

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/viking_1.jpg

Spot on Bri:D

The cockpit photo is of a replica

YHC

Thanks Kitbag, that was fun. Here is the next 'What cockpit?'

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...40/3905554.jpg

evansb's challenge
 

I think we are back at sea again. Please check your PMs.
Mel

Total guess, Supermarine Southampton Stranraer?

Sorry, Kitbag, not a British-made aircraft.

But it is a twin engine biplane flying boat?

It is a twin-engine monoplane, but not a flying boat.

Is it a Heinkel He 111B?