Scottish Aviation Pioneer
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The Scottish Aviation Pioneer was a STOL aircraft manufactured by Scottish Aviation in Scotland. It was used for casualty evacuation and communications and could accommodate a pilot and up to five passengers. [1]
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[edit] Development
The Pioneer was planned to meet the requirements of Air Ministry Specification A.4/45 for a light communication aircraft. The three seat prototype A4/45, powered by a 240 hp De Havilland Gipsy Queen was a three seat high winged cabin monoplane. The use of the Gipsy Queen engine resulted in disappointing performance, and so the A.4/45 was not ordered by the RAF. Scottish Aviation decided to produce a civil version powered by a more powerful engine.
The prototype Pioneer II, powered by a 520 hp Alvis Leonides engine, first flew on 5 May 1950 [2]. The Pioneer II demonstrated excellent STOL performance, and was ordered by the RAF as the Pioneer C.C.1.
[edit] Operational history
The RAF used the Pioneer extensively for tasks such as casualty evacuation in the Malayan Emergency, Aden and Cyprus, some remaining operational until 1969 [3]. Pioneers were also used by the Ceylon air force and the Royal Malayan Air Force.
[edit] Variants
- Pioneer 1 :
- Pioneer 2 :
- Pioneer CC.Mk 1 : STOL utility transport aircraft for the RAF.
[edit] Operators
- Ceylon (Sri Lanka) (4 aircraft), Malaysia (9 aircraft), United Kingdom (RAF).
[edit] Specifications (Pioneer C.C.1)
Data from Aircraft of the Royal Air Force[4]
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Capacity: Four passengers
- Length: 34 ft 4 in (10.47 m)
- Wingspan: 49 ft 9 in (15.17 m)
- Height: 10 ft 3 in (3.13 m)
- Wing area: 390 ft² (36.3 m²)
- Empty weight: 3,835 lb (1743 kg)
- Loaded weight: 5,800 lb (2636 kg)
- Useful load: lb (kg)
- Max takeoff weight: lb (kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Alvis Leonides 502/4 radial engine, 520 hp (388 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 141 knots (162 mph, 261 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 105 knots (121 mph, 195 km/h)
- Stall speed: 31 knots (36 mph, 58 km/h)
- Range: 365 nm (420 mi, 676 km)
- Service ceiling: 23,000 ft (7,010 m)
- Rate of climb: ft/min (m/s)
- Wing loading: 14.9 lb/ft² (72.6 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.0897 hp/lb (0.147 kW/kg)
- Take off run 225 ft (69 m)
- Landing run 198 ft (60 m)
[edit] References
- ^ Brittishaircraft.co.uk - Pioneer Obtained December 27, 2006.
- ^ Donald, David (Editor) (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Aerospace Publishing location=London. ISBN ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
- ^ RAF Museum - Pioneer. Retrieved on March 17, 2007.
- ^ Thetford, Owen (1957). Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57, 1st edition, London: Putnam.
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