Birthday Present for Prestwick Pioneer

hkgdave

Happy Birthday, mate!
I risked getting shot at recently round the back of the Air Force side of the airport, here in Muscat, to take these photos of a Prestwick (aka Scottish Aviation) Pioneer.
Lord knows when it last flew but it looks largely complete except for the engine, which could be stored elsewhere.
I've never seen one before though there may be another, presumably in better shape, in the Armed Forces Museum in Ruwi. If I ever go there (must do sometime) I'll try and get a pic of that too.
Dave

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Adrian

Dave,

What HAVE they done with the wings? Looks like the aircraft carrier version! Any idea of the serial? Possibly XL554 as I have a photo of its wrecked wings.

hkgdave

Sorry Adrian, I don't know the serial. That was as close as I could get, peering through a fence.
Looking at the photos again, the rear fuselage appears to be missing. Isn't that where the serial would be? And the engine is in fact there....I thought it was just the cowling. I presumed the wings were meant to fold. No?
I may be able to get access at some time. Certainly I will report further if I do.
Did the Sultan's Air Force retain the British serials back in those days?

Dave

Prestwick Pioneer

WOW!!!!!
Thank you Dave, that is some birthday present. Sadly, Prestwick does not boast an example of either the Pioneer or the Twin Pioneer. I would love to get the twin pin out of Baghdad, and this out of Seeb but there is no need for a C130 or 111 flight to PIK to do it. Unless its a training flight!!! Or I get my mates to sneak it out in one of their 330s or 340s! Im with Adrian on the "Carrier Conversion", a bit dodgy, butat least they didnt dispose of the wings. As for the twin pin in BGW we just need the USAF to throw it in a gally, and drop it off on a fuel stop. Those are my plans anyway. I dont know if you will make it to the LGW fair, I will certainly be attending, but it would be a pleasure to meet up again. Thank you Dave, take care my good man.
Sandy

Prestwick Pioneer

I have a picture of two of them at PIK in Bill Green's Observers Aircraft Encyclopedia of 1961 (with the Vanguard on the cover Adrian) I will look it up on my return to Elmdon.

hkgdave

Quote: Originally Posted by Prestwick Pioneer I dont know if you will make it to the LGW fair.....

Hi Sandy, As it stands at the moment, it's unlikely that I will be at LGW this year. However in the unpredictable world of my employer, things could change.
I believe attempts have been made to spring the Pioneer in the past. Not sure what the reaction was but clearly it came to nought (so far).
As previously mentioned, I am hoping to wangle a visit to that part of the base sometime (nothing happens quickly in Oman) so I'll report back if and when it happens.
Cheers,
Dave

GliderPilot

Quote: Originally Posted by Prestwick Pioneer WOW!!!!! Thank you Dave, that is some birthday present. Sadly, Prestwick does not boast an example of either the Pioneer or the Twin Pioneer. I would love to get the twin pin out of Baghdad, and this out of Seeb but there is no need for a C130 or 111 flight to PIK to do it. Unless its a training flight!!! Or I get my mates to sneak it out in one of their 330s or 340s! Im with Adrian on the "Carrier Conversion", a bit dodgy, butat least they didnt dispose of the wings. As for the twin pin in BGW we just need the USAF to throw it in a gally, and drop it off on a fuel stop. Those are my plans anyway. I dont know if you will make it to the LGW fair, I will certainly be attending, but it would be a pleasure to meet up again. Thank you Dave, take care my good man. Sandy

I once flew in the Air Atlantique Twin Pioneer out of Coventry. It was in the ETPS "raspberry ripple" scheme. I have photos of it in that scheme and in Air Atlantiques colours aswell. Unfortunately I don't think I can post them as they are film not digital and since I "upgraded" to Windows Vista on a notebook computer, my scanner doesn't work.

Captain_W

Your gonna need some extra faps to get that plane to take off!