Is the Twin Pioneer G-APRS at Coventry being scrapped?

Maybe they want more hits from Google? Or more American visitors?

To add insult to injury they call it an airplane!

The Airplane (sic) Glamping website is already up and running though they’re not expecting to have it “transformed” before next summer –

http://www.airplaneglamping.com

Not so Propstrike. An example has recently returned to the skies in Australia.

Tim

Pity more don’t fly, its now rare engines likely have something to do with it.
Also too bad the factory didn’t stick PT6s or Garrett 331s on it, it might have done well as a competitor to the DHC Twin Otter.

All the electrical plugs will be twin pin apparently.

I think the wings are getting reattached.

“The Twin Pioneer had its wings removed in order to be transported to Mains Farm in Thornhill where it will be reassembled by Mr Steedman before a kitchen and bathroom is fitted inside.”

I wonder how they will plumb it in…

lets hope the wings find a good home. Look how many a/c and rail wagons were used in this way, and as chicken coops, and are now in collections. Nothing to stop someone buying her in years to come and restoring her.

Its now a caravan ..shed ,not an aeroplane,lucky that the type is already in museums in the UK. Useful as novelty value attraction and the new owners do love waht they do so it will survive longer than in a scrap yard.

I had hoped for a better outcome that that, but better at least than being scrapped. As an aeroplane out the elements, there will be a slow decay into corrosion and dereliction, which is rather sad.

I was very fond of the type, and that aeroplane, and I don’t suppose we will ever see another flyer. I remember the VFWE fly in at Hullavington where the Twin Pin and AN2 had a side-by-side short take off contest, and the Twin Pin won by a mile !

A mixed blessing, really. Nice that it has returned to Scotland, but a shame that the interior will be re-fitted. I wonder if they will mount the tail somehow, or whether everything inside will be designed to take into account the angle of the fuselage? A little part of me wonders whether those who run these novelty ‘glamping’ attractions have the skills, time and interest to keep a historic aircraft in good condition.

The Twin Pin has now arrived at the farm near Stirling where it is to be converted for glamping. An article with a couple of pics in today’s Dundee Courier –

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/scotland/689150/twin-pioneer-plane-to-be-converted-into-holiday-home/

Just to steer this thread back on to the original subject…

but does anyone know what is happening to the airframe for sure – or have further pictures of the dismantling?

Thanks, Anon.

Thanks RichW_82, I’m not disrespecting a fellow enthusiast, just pointing out we are a minority interest group and what does it for us doesn’t necessarily do it for the general public who will only get behind something that significantly stirs their interest. To them we are no different to Steam Train enthusiasts or MG owners etc. As they say in “The Right Stuff”, “no bucks , no Buck Rogers”. I too have found myself the person people go to when curious about something in vintage aviation they don’t recognise and try to educate people to the best of my ability. They tend to be interested but not to the point of getting their wallets out.

Sadly as time goes on and the WW2, 50s & 60s period moves out of living history people will become even more unaware of our subject of interest. I was horrified at the Eastbourne airshow a few years ago as I stood next to to the BBMF stall I overheard one person saying to their companion something like “The Battle of Britain? who did we have that with? was it the Germans or the French?”, “Dun know, was it before or after the second world war?” came the reply.

Anyway I have a slightly different problem now with Merlins in that since Boultbee set up shop at Goodwood my youngsters aren’t impressed by Spitfires so much as they see one go over their playground most days, even more common than the resident Harvard ! I suppose it’s a nice problem to have.

His Diss is in Norfolk, I suspect he meant dis(respect)….

Being knowledgeable doesn’t necessarily make you right, especially when you miss the point by a wide mark. What Shorty01 was getting at is that a good proportion of people on this forum concentrate on other types that don’t have a Merlin up front – and thats fine. The world will still turn. But out there in that world people aren’t going to give you the amount of support needed to purchase, restore and operate that type. Airbase/Classic Flight found that out with Classic Air Force, as did I when I was trying hard to sell the Shackleton as a project to anyone who stopped long enough to listen.

The hard fact is enthusiasm only gets you so far. Then you need money.

Rich

(and seriously….’diss’…?)

Yes maybe I’m a romantic, but don’t tell me that we don’t need Merlin power. For over 30 years I’ve spread the word, being a person others come to when they see a historic but didn’t know what they saw, to explain what it was with a history or operator.Been to museums all over the world, bringing new people to the hobby we enjoy. So don’t Diss my enthusiasm .

So, do we know what is actually happening to the Twin Pin – Glamping pod? Private dwelling? Bits in a skip?

They’ve salvaged the engines and probably other bits as well though I’d surmise, if it’s going to be a Glamping Pod or similar that the new owner would want the cockpit pretty much intact.

Anon.

We don’t need Merlin power, and appreciate the other less romantic types, but WE, i.e. those of us on this forum are not that many in number compared to the great unwashed. Unfortunately Spitfires, Hurricanes & Lancasters are what the public know about, as was the Vulcan, so they get all the money. I’ve often been the only aviation enthusiast in various places I have worked and have really had to explain/educate people that there is more to historic aviation in this country than the aforementioned types. You have to stir peoples passion to get cash and/or time out of them to keep things going.

Yes we all like fast,loud and sleek

No we don’t Merlin Power, and I’m sure a number on this forum would agree with me, but I do agree with the jest of your reply.