Classic Air Force

The other Twin Pioneer was still stored in dismantled state a few months ago. Complete fuselage, wings and most if not all the rest.

The Twin Pioneer at AirBase Coventry in September 2010.

Iirc the Twin Pioneer was on display last time we were at Cosford (in the Cold War building?). There is the single-engined Prestwick Pioneer stored in one of the hangars across the airfield.

Hello Mothminor,

Not that one! I was aware of the cockpit in the D&G museum, just not the wreckage next to it!

Again from memory, the Classic Air Force 2nd example was stored indoors rather than simply under cover. Also from memory there was an example of one in the deep storage at Cosford?

Hi Meddle,

You’re not thinking of this one (G-AYFA) at Dumfries by any chance?

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Hello Iain,

Thanks for the ID of the second Twin Pioneer. The photograph I recall seeing showed little more than a cockpit in some sort of shed or outhouse. I don’t think it was stored in Coventry but somewhere else.

My Google Fu is letting me down today.

Meddle,
The Classic Air Force Twin Pioneer spares ship was G-AZHJ, purchased from the Prestwick Pioneer Preservation Society. I don’t know its present status, or even if it still exists.
I took this shot of it at the 1992 Prestwick Air Show. Hope the link works.
https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1106135
Regards,
Iain

Iain43

Many thanks for clarifying that the dumped static test airframe and the “blue” coated example I mentioned were two different examples. In ignorance I had conflated the two.

Shame to hear that the Twin Pin is going to be turned into posh camping. I’d heard that it was to be shipped to Ireland and be restored back to flying condition. I think that Classic Air Force had a second Twin Pin in storage as a parts mule for the first. I’ve seen one photograph of one in storage that backs this up.

In the back of my mind I always thought it would be great to see a Twin Pin fly at the Prestwick Airshow, to show off the local talent a bit!

I realise that this thread is drifting a bit, but to set the record straight as regards the “Caravan” Twin Pioneer at Prestwick, it was in fact c/n 506, the original non-flying test airframe. It was dumped outside, still in its stress rig, until it was sold in the mid 1960s for use as a caravan.
As to the identity of the “blue” Twin Pioneer behind the Pup, this was probably the uncompleted c/n 585, which lay outside the SAL hangars for years. The “blue”, by the way, was a protective wax film.

The static test Twin Pioneer airframe was stored there for some considerable time. When I photographed the airframe it was overall dark blue. It was allocated a c/n SFAIK, but was never registered as it was not intended for flight.

Yes at Prestwick early 1980’s. The foreground aircraft is a Beagle Pup c/n 186. I purchased it but SAL managed to scrap it before I collected it!.

Looks like a Beagle Pup to me, rear window looks the right shape…………..Martrin

Is that a Gemini in the forground Robert. It looks like a Gemini except for the rear window being square, Geminis are usually a egg shaped, if you know what I mean. Where was photo taken and date, plus serial numbers.
I don’t ask for much.
Possibly Prestwick as your from Scotland?

Possibly this one, in the background?

Seems ironic that in ‘Epics of Aviation Archaeology’- DJ Smith mentioned how a Twin Pioneer test airframe was in use as a caravan in Ayrshire ! I guess forty years turns a ‘caravan’ into ‘glamping’!

and yet, one in Australia has just returned to flight.

Anything is possible – but realistically too expensive in this case I suspect.

parts to keep the twin pin airworthy are rocking horse droppings, for example fire extinguishers for engines.

I thought the Shackleton has always been owned by a a separate organisation?

I’ve heard the Twin Pioneer and possibly the DC6 are joining the Sea King in northern England or Scotland for Glamping. If so it’s a pity as the Twin Pioneer would have been nice kept in working order.