A couple of days ago, on an indirect flight to Iraq, we took a C-17 into Prestwick Scotland to drop off some stuff. I saw the Air Atlantique Twin Pioneer sitting across the ramp from us. While waiting for our clearance to fly to Germany, I ran over to look at it. The only one I’d seen previously was the one at Baghdad. Anyhow, I got to visiting with the crew and they were good enough to take me for a ride in it. I gather that it is the only one flying so it was a rare treat.
We got back on the ground with just enough time for me to make it back to the plane for engine start. Needless to say, my pilot wasn’t happy that I’d been tooling around the Scottish countryside in an old plane. I didn’t care and still don’t! It was probably a once in a lifetime chance and I’m thankful to the Twin Pin crew for the opportunity!
By: Buddy Boy - 3rd July 2005 at 16:34
I had a flight in the Twin Pin as well last Saturday. Was a fantastic flight in such great weather and fantastic scenery. Much better than the 16 hours in Airbus’s the next day!
By: mike currill - 29th June 2005 at 19:34
Heard a new nickname for it on Saturday – The Painting – because in a decent headwind it just hangs there.
g45
😀 😀 That appeals to my warped sense of humour. When you see them do that it’s easy to understand why their short field performance was so good.
By: grow45 - 29th June 2005 at 17:09
You can do sometjing about the altitude in a TwinPin but any overflight is going to be slooooow cos they don’t do fast. 😀 I think VNe is in the regione of 150 knots
Heard a new nickname for it on Saturday – The Painting – because in a decent headwind it just hangs there.
g45
By: Atcham Tower - 29th June 2005 at 14:17
Mike, you’re right – the slow adjective was redundant! As I once said to an AN-2 pilot “Vacate next right on the High Speed Turn-Off, or rather, in your case, the Slow Speed Turn-Off!”
By: mike currill - 29th June 2005 at 13:22
And it made one member of Liverpool ATC very happy when it made a low, sedate flyby of the airport on its way north. Thanks guys! Reminded me of the one in full Swissair livery southbound low over the Wirral circa 1956 on its way to Farnborough. (I was very young then…)
You can do sometjing about the altitude in a TwinPin but any overflight is going to be slooooow cos they don’t do fast. 😀 I think VNe is in the regione of 150 knots
By: Ren Frew - 29th June 2005 at 13:04
I just missed out on a trip on Sunday by arriving too late, as the Twin Pin was just prepping to head back to base.
Managed a few shots though…
Mexican Bob, your departure from Prestwick was the talk of the neighbourhood on Saturday, was that some kind of low tactical exercise ?
By: DragonflyDH90 - 29th June 2005 at 08:47
It was the two Gold Coast machines up for sale, not sure what the story is (I’m all confused now).
Ill find the ad, perhaps the website is out of date, not sure.
Perhaps someone else can fill us both in, maybe ‘setter’ knows a bit more.
By: Will J - 29th June 2005 at 08:36
Are these two the Gold Coast ‘Twin Pionair’ ones, their website seems to be currenly offering flights and gives the impression of being a going concern?
Or are there two other Twin Pins + spares down there?
By: DragonflyDH90 - 29th June 2005 at 08:14
The Pioneer’s in Australia were up for sale about 2 years ago, they stayed on the market for ages.
There were two along with quite a considerable spares package, I seem to remember.
Last I heard the had basically been dumped in a field and left, possibly put up for sale at scrap value.
I havnt heard anything since.
I will see if I can find the ad and post a scan of it here.
By: mexicanbob - 29th June 2005 at 06:51
MexicanBob, glad you enjoyed the trip, there is nothing like a bit of gentle Twin-Pinning!
PS If you fancy returning the favour, and the Baghdad Twin Pin could fit in a Globemaster….. hint hint..
Seriously, we could genuinely use another one!
John,
I genuinly enjoyed the flight. I’m pretty sure the Baghdad example will fit in my plane and if I can find a way to do it, I’ll bring it back with me sometime! I’ll be back through there in a day or two anyhow!
It’s in pretty bad shape, but I’d like to point out that the damage I saw to it imediately after we took over the airport, wasn’t due to the war. Most of it looked like vandalism. She is in pretty rough shape.
By: Atcham Tower - 28th June 2005 at 23:02
And it made one member of Liverpool ATC very happy when it made a low, sedate flyby of the airport on its way north. Thanks guys! Reminded me of the one in full Swissair livery southbound low over the Wirral circa 1956 on its way to Farnborough. (I was very young then…)
By: Der - 28th June 2005 at 21:17
Thanks for that. Nice photos Grow 45.
By: David Burke - 28th June 2005 at 21:13
Der – A quick bit of Scottish history ! The first flight of a Twin Pioneer was the 25th of June 1955 from Prestwick . I guess it’s the anniversary!!
By: grow45 - 28th June 2005 at 21:12
Mexicanbob was lucky to fly in the Pin, and from its birthplace too. Wonder what it was doing there?
Anyone know?
It was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the Twin Pioneer on Saturday 25th June 1955. There was a lecture programme during the day and at the end of the day it taxied over to the Scottish Aviation (now BAe) part of Prestwick to let the guests (mostly ex SAL employees and RAF chaps who had flown it) take a closer look at it.
Some photos attached.
g45
By: Der - 28th June 2005 at 20:48
Mexicanbob was lucky to fly in the Pin, and from its birthplace too. Wonder what it was doing there?
Anyone know?
By: Propstrike - 28th June 2005 at 20:37
There was one (or two) flying in Australia, until pretty recently. If they are not still airworthy, they are probably not far off.
By: Will J - 28th June 2005 at 19:37
MexicanBob, glad you enjoyed the trip, there is nothing like a bit of gentle Twin-Pinning!
PS If you fancy returning the favour, and the Baghdad Twin Pin could fit in a Globemaster….. hint hint..
Seriously, we could genuinely use another one!
By: David Burke - 28th June 2005 at 18:40
All volunteers to go to Bagdad and dismantle a Twin Pin form an olderly queue here !
I think considering a Twin Pioneer was scrapped in the U.K in the 1990’s she might well be better off left where she is.
By: Rlangham - 28th June 2005 at 16:29
Very nice. Also like to say exactly what Mike J did, be very interesting if they brought her back somewhere and restored her, from photos she seems in good nick.
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June 28, 2005 at 3:52 pm