Pioneer and Twin Pioneer
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Pioneer and Twin Pioneer
I am currently researching the Prestwick Pioneer and Twin Pioneer with a view to putting together a combined history of the types. So far it seems that production lists and individual aircraft histories will not be too difficult to come by but I am trying to avoid producing a dry, boring list of facts and figures.
My hope is that there are some veteran PPruners out there willing to share some anecdotes (verifiable) or images of the types in service which will give a more immediate feel to the story of what I feel were underrated aircraft which deserve to be remembered.
I would be very grateful for any stories, images or tips which come my way. All original material will be treated with care and returned with the minimum of delay.
Thanks & regards
My hope is that there are some veteran PPruners out there willing to share some anecdotes (verifiable) or images of the types in service which will give a more immediate feel to the story of what I feel were underrated aircraft which deserve to be remembered.
I would be very grateful for any stories, images or tips which come my way. All original material will be treated with care and returned with the minimum of delay.
Thanks & regards
I imagine if you can find anyone who did the delivery flights (especially to Malaysia), they might have some interesting stories to tell, perhaps with maintenance and training, too. Neither were known for their range...
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I dont know about the Twin Pioneers but certainly the single engined variety were shipped to the Far East by sea. When I was at RAF Seletar, 1961 to 1964 I was in the 17th Singapore Scout Group and we were gifted a "Pioneer Box" by the RAF to use as a secondary storage room and scout hut. It was basically a large box painted in a grey colour and I clearly remember it still had the shipping details stencilled on the side. I would strongly suspect that the Twins were also shipped this way as well.
Always used to enjoy watching them and the Beverleys doing circuits, I can still hear them now........must be an age thing.
QP
Always used to enjoy watching them and the Beverleys doing circuits, I can still hear them now........must be an age thing.
QP
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QP,
If you wish to be reminded of the sound of a Twin Pin's Leonides, have a look at the Tube of U under 'Twin Pioneer at Wedderburn'.
That one, VH-EVB, is an ex RMAF one.
If you wish to be reminded of the sound of a Twin Pin's Leonides, have a look at the Tube of U under 'Twin Pioneer at Wedderburn'.
That one, VH-EVB, is an ex RMAF one.
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I attended one of the open cockpit evenings at the RAF Museum at Cosford a couple of years ago. (To be recommended, really enlightening).
Most of the open aircraft had an attendant to explain and answer the inevitable questions.
The Twin Pioneer had as an attendant an ex RAF NCO who had served on them in the Far East and regaled us with tales of the aircraft being fitted with a very high powered loud speaker system. It would appear it was to be used to transmit propaganda to the bad guys below but was in fact never used for that.
It was however used as a very good taunting system on the other resident squadrons to good effect. Ribaldry from the skies !
No doubt an email to the museum would uncover the gentleman.
Most of the open aircraft had an attendant to explain and answer the inevitable questions.
The Twin Pioneer had as an attendant an ex RAF NCO who had served on them in the Far East and regaled us with tales of the aircraft being fitted with a very high powered loud speaker system. It would appear it was to be used to transmit propaganda to the bad guys below but was in fact never used for that.
It was however used as a very good taunting system on the other resident squadrons to good effect. Ribaldry from the skies !
No doubt an email to the museum would uncover the gentleman.
Last edited by papa_sierra; 16th Oct 2016 at 13:18. Reason: spelling
Back in the 1980's I had my aircraft radios maintained by the late Doug Hooper at Gloucester Staverton.
There was an old Twin Pin sat next to the tower.
Anyone know what happened to it?
There was an old Twin Pin sat next to the tower.
Anyone know what happened to it?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisengland/27258462116
but in 1978.
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As a 12, 13 year old I can clearly remember the Skyshout Twin Pins. A few days before Christmas each year, they would climb out of RAF Seletar and spend the next hour or two at relatively low level flying over the married quartets and hiring in and around the camp playing carols at high volume.
Nothing to do with this thread but I also remember as an even younger lad, the Skyshout Pembroke's at RAF Eastleigh in Kenya. I have some photos somewhere.
OK back onto Scottish Aviation's masterpieces.
QP
Nothing to do with this thread but I also remember as an even younger lad, the Skyshout Pembroke's at RAF Eastleigh in Kenya. I have some photos somewhere.
OK back onto Scottish Aviation's masterpieces.
QP
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Twin Pin G-APRS was still being flown by Air Atlantique recently - is it still airworthy?
I believe an over-enthusiastic test pilot hauled the prototype Prestwick Pioneer off the runway at one of the 1950s Farnborough shows, somehow badly damaging the elevators in the process. A fairly hasty circuit was followed by an uneventful landing!
I believe an over-enthusiastic test pilot hauled the prototype Prestwick Pioneer off the runway at one of the 1950s Farnborough shows, somehow badly damaging the elevators in the process. A fairly hasty circuit was followed by an uneventful landing!
I dont know about the Twin Pioneers but certainly the single engined variety were shipped to the Far East by sea. When I was at RAF Seletar, 1961 to 1964 I was in the 17th Singapore Scout Group and we were gifted a "Pioneer Box" by the RAF to use as a secondary storage room and scout hut. It was basically a large box painted in a grey colour and I clearly remember it still had the shipping details stencilled on the side. I would strongly suspect that the Twins were also shipped this way as well.
Perhaps, as a result of the early flights, it was decided it was better to crate them and send them by sea.
Last edited by barry lloyd; 16th Oct 2016 at 21:41.
Twin Pin G-APRS was still being flown by Air Atlantique recently - is it still airworthy?
I believe an over-enthusiastic test pilot hauled the prototype Prestwick Pioneer off the runway at one of the 1950s Farnborough shows, somehow badly damaging the elevators in the process. A fairly hasty circuit was followed by an uneventful landing!
I dont know about the Twin Pioneers but certainly the single engined variety were shipped to the Far East by sea. When I was at RAF Seletar, 1961 to 1964 I was in the 17th Singapore Scout Group and we were gifted a "Pioneer Box" by the RAF to use as a secondary storage room and scout hut. It was basically a large box painted in a grey colour and I clearly remember it still had the shipping details stencilled on the side. I would strongly suspect that the Twins were also shipped this way as well.
I have this dated as 21/04/1962 at Speke. Maybe they were 'boxed' later, but I know for sure that this was a delivery flight.
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Barry,
I cannot speak about the Malaysian aircraft but I do know that there were quite a few Pioneer boxes lying around at Seletar in the early 60s so at least some of the RAF aircraft were shipped by sea.
QP
I cannot speak about the Malaysian aircraft but I do know that there were quite a few Pioneer boxes lying around at Seletar in the early 60s so at least some of the RAF aircraft were shipped by sea.
QP