Aeroplane, Twin Pioneer

This aeroplane, a Twin Pioneer was built for the RAF in 1959 by Scottish Aviation Ltd. at Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire. In 1973, it was purchased by Flight One, based at Shobdon airfield in Herefordshire, and converted to civil use as a photo-survey aircraft. While it was parked there, damage sustained during a severe gale brought its flying life to an end.

The high-wing, short-range transport and general-purpose aeroplane, was powered by two Alvis Leonides piston engines. It had a maximum speed of 165 mph at 2,000 ft, a cruising speed of 140 mph at 7,000 ft, a range of 398 miles (with 16 passengers) and a service ceiling of 20,000 ft.

Used for both civil and military use, the Twin Pioneer was developed from the single-engined Prestwick Pioneer by Scottish Aviation Ltd. Its ability to operate at high atmospheric temperatures has enabled it to perform a wide range of tasks in many tropical and equatorial countries, as well as in the UK, Switzerland and Austria. The Series 3 Twin Pioneer has been used for passenger and freight transport, photographic and geophysical surveying, and for air ambulance work. The military version could also be equipped for supply dropping, light bombing, paratrooping and speech broadcasting.

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