Scottish Aviation Pioneer

infobox Aircraft
name =Pioneer
type =Utility transport
manufacturer =Scottish Aviation



caption =
designer =
first flight = 5 November 1947
introduced = 1950
retired =1969 (RAF)
primary user = Royal Air Force
more users = Malaysia Ceylon
produced =
number built = 59
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles =Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer

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. Brittishaircraft.co.uk - [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=615 Pioneer] Access date: 27 December 2006.]

Design and 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 Donald, David, ed. "The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft". London: Aerospace Publishing, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.] . The Pioneer II demonstrated excellent STOL performance, and was ordered by the RAF as the Pioneer C.C.1.

Operational history

The RAF used the Pioneer extensively for tasks such as casualty evacuation in the Malayan Emergency, Aden and Cyprus. With its unusually large slats and flaps, it was able to operate out of very short, unprepared strips and could take off in as little as 225 ft. The Pioneer remained operational in small numbers until 1969 ["RAF Museum - Pioneer". [http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/scottish-aviation-pioneer-cci.htm RAF Museum - Pioneer] Access date: 17 March 2007 ] . Pioneers were also used by the Royal Ceylon Air Force and the Royal Malayan Air Force.

Variants

* Pioneer : Four-seat STOL transport aircraft, powered by a 240-hp (179-kW) de Havilland Gipsy Queen 32 piston engine.
* Pioneer 2 : Five-seat STOL transport aircraft, powered by a 520-hp (388-kW) Alvis Leonides radial piston engine.
* Pioneer CC Mk 1 : Five-seat STOL casualty evacuation, communications aircraft for the RAF.

Operators

;SRI (Ceylon)
*Royal Ceylon Air Force - (four aircraft);MYS
*Royal Malaysian Air Force - (nine aircraft);UK
*Royal Air Force
**No. 20 Squadron RAF
**No. 78 Squadron RAF
**No. 209 Squadron RAF
**No. 215 Squadron RAF
**No. 230 Squadron RAF
**No. 267 Squadron RAF

pecifications (Pioneer C.C.1)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Aircraft of the Royal Air Force Thetford, Owen. "Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57", 1st edition. London: Putnam, 1957.]
crew=One
capacity=Four passengers
length main= 34 ft 4 in
length alt= 10.47 m
span main= 49 ft 9 in
span alt= 15.17 m
height main= 10 ft 3 in
height alt= 3.13 m
area main= 390 ft²
area alt= 36.3 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 3,835 lb
empty weight alt= 1,743 kg
loaded weight main= 5,800 lb
loaded weight alt= 2,636 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (prop)= Alvis Leonides 502/4
type of prop= radial engine
number of props=1
power main= 520 hp
power alt= 388 kW
power original=
max speed main= 141 knots
max speed alt= 162 mph, 261 km/h
cruise speed main= 105 knots
cruise speed alt= 121 mph, 195 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main= 31 knots
stall speed alt= 36 mph, 58 km/h
range main= 365 nm
range alt= 420 mi, 676 km
ceiling main= 23,000 ft
ceiling alt= 7,010 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main= 14.9 lb/ft²
loading alt= 72.6 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.0897 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.147 kW/kg
more performance=
*Take off run 225 ft (69 m)
*Landing run 198 ft (60 m)
armament=
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer
similar aircraft=

lists=

see also=

References

External links

* [http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/scottish-aviation-pioneer-cci.htm RAF Museum: Scottish Aviation Pioneer]
* [http://avia.russian.ee/air/england/scottish_pioneer.php Scottish Aviation (Prestwick) Pioneer 1947]