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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 1263.PDF
377 Power plant ... Two AMt Leonide*503 /8 Span 76ft 6inLength 45ft 3in Gross weight 13,500 lbCruising speed (40 per cent) 124m.p.h Above, Twin Pioneer Below, Prestwick Pioneer Power plant . AM* Leonidcs 504/1Span 49ft9in Length 34ft 6inGross weight 5,4001b Cruising speed ... 120m pn SCOTTISH AVIATION, LTD. Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire Telephone: Prestwick 79888 Twin Pioneer The prototype of this unique transport aircraft was built in production jigs, and tooling is now in progress for a production run of 200 machines. A "big brother" to the Pioneer, the "Twin" incorporates outer-wing panels and power units almost identical with those of the single-engined machine. It has, however, a much roomier fuselage and can carry up to 16 passengers, or well over a ton of freight, while retaining a short-field performar; .c almost as remarkable as that of the smaller aircraft. The airframe is a simple stressed-skin light-alloy structure built up from sheet strip and plate without the use of a stretch-press. The centre section of the wing has a large built-in slot on each side of the engine nacelles, and the outer wings have very large powered slats similar to those of the Pioneer, except for the use of a single spar instead of two. The slats are opened and shut by a hydraulic jack which, through a system of chains, rotates a series of universally jointed torque tubes carried ahead of the false spar in the leading edge. The slats are mounted on tracks running between guide rollers in the leading edge; the lower edge of each track carries an integral row of teeth meshing with a chain which passes over the sprockets on the driving torque tubes. When the flaps are extended to 12 deg, the slats are opened. As is usual in fixed-wing aircraft capable of flying at low speeds, the Twin Pioneer has a large tail with triple fin-and-rudder assemblies. Especially notable is the degree of interchangeabiliry achieved—for example, the power units, fins and rudders, slats, outer flaps, main undercarriage assemblies, nacelles, oil and outer-fuel tanks are all interchangeable. The design offers considerable promise in development for specific duties, such as the carriage of heavy freight, photographic survey, or as a carrier-borne picket or trans- port. A projected freight version with large rear-loading doors was represented by a model at the previous S.B.A.C. display. Prestwick Pioneer As supplied to the R.A.F. for use on ambulance/communications duties in Malaya, the Pioneer C.C.I has an Alvis Leonides engine, though other units can be installed without difficulty. The machine is famous for its take-off and landing abilities, achieved with the aid of full-span slats and Fowler-type flaps, operated by a single control. For a normal take-off or landing run, a 50-yd surface is sufficient, and the distance required to clear a 50-ft obstacle is only 180 yd. The Leonides-powercd machine carries a pilot plus four passengers and baggage over a distance of 400 miles at 120 m.p.h. Trials have lately been under way with a special ambulance version for the R.A.F., embodying a stretcher-loading hatch.
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