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Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer G-APRS
| Location: Coventry | In Service: 1956-68 |
| Manufacturer: Scottish Aviation Limited, Prestwick Airport, Scotland | Purpose: STOL transport and short-haul airliner |
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Power Plant: Two Alvis Leonides 501/4 engines |
Length: 45ft 3in |
| Construction: All-metal | Maximum speed: 165mph Range: 795miles Service ceiling 20,000 ft Rate of climb: 1,250 ft./min Wing loading: Thrust/weight: |
Armament: No fixed armament is carried
History: One of the greatest limitations to an aircraft's capability is the amount of space it needs to take off and land. So when Scottish Aviation laid down the concept for their short take of and landing (STOL) transport in the early 1950s they were confident of a commercial success. When the aircraft first flew in 1955 it was clear that their confidence was well-placed. Looking at the airframe it's easy to see how its astonishing lift capabilites are achieved - virtually everything is a lift surface. The wings carry giant flaps, and the undercarriage lateral struts are virtually an additional wing. The tailplane's width isn't far short of the Vampire's wingspan. Even the fuselage is shaped to provide substantial lift. All of this allows the "Twin Pin" to fly slowly. very slowly. As a result it can get in and out of extremely restricted spaces. It's also an extremely tough aeroplane - an absolute necessity when working away from established airfields. The Twin Pin saw service in Malaya. carrying troops and supplies during the Emergency. Its box-like fuselage made it an excellent load carrier, and the strong undercarriage stub-wings were frequently used for additional external payload. The Twin Pioneer was also a successful commercial aircraft, working as a survey plane for companies like Rio Tinto and the Austrian and Swiss governements. The Twin Pin's service life ended in 1968. Its often rough areas of operation meant that many were in too poor a state for preservation, and Air Atlantique Classic Flight's example is the last airworthy example in the world.
