The Pioneer was planned to meet the requirements of Air Ministry Specification A.4/45 for a light communication aircraft.
 The three-seat prototype A.4/45, powered by a 240 hp de Havilland Gipsy Queen was a three-seat high-wing cabin monoplane.
Four prototypes were ordered, under the name "Scottish Aviation Prestwick Pioneer" (Serials VL515, VL516, VL517, and VL518).
In the event, only the first two were completed.
The prototype aircraft (VL515) first flew in 1947.

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 instead to produce a civil version.
This was achieved by fitting the two prototypes (VL515 and VL516) with new, more powerful engines as the "Pioneer II".

The prototype Pioneer II was the former prototype Pioneer I, (VL515) which was civil registered as G-AKBF.
Powered by a 520 hp Alvis Leonides engine, and first flew on 5 May 1950.
The second prototype Pioneer I (VL516) was similarly converted, and civil registered as G-ANAZ..  The Pioneer II demonstrated excellent STOL performance, and was ordered by the RAF as the Pioneer CC.1.

Production examples of the Pioneer CC.1 were fitted with full-span controlled leading-edge wing slats and large-area Fowler-type trailing edge flaps, giving a take-off run of 225 feet and a landing run of only 200 feet.

The first Pioneer CC.1 to be delivered to the RAF, on 11 August 1953, was serialled XE512.
Ironically, XE512 was essentially the prototype Prestwick Pioneer I from 1947, re-engined with the Alvis Leonides engine, and refurbished for RAF use. (
Thus, VL515 became G-AKBF,  and then returned to a military serial as XE512).
The next three aircraft delivered (constructors numbers 102, 103 and 104) were likewise the second prototype VL516/G-ANAZ plus the partly completed third and fourth prototypes VL517 and VL518.
As XE513, XE514 and XE515 they were delivered on 15 August 1953, 3 September 1953 and 10 February 1954 respectively.
Two of these first batch of four are illustrated on this page.
The Pioneer was planned to meet the requirements of Air Ministry Specification A.4/45 for a light communication aircraft.  The three-seat prototype A.4/45, powered by a 240 hp de Havilland Gipsy Queen was a three-seat high-wing cabin monoplane. Four prototypes were ordered, under the name "Scottish Aviation Prestwick Pioneer" (Serials VL515, VL516, VL517, and VL518). In the event, only the first two were completed. The prototype aircraft (VL515) first flew in 1947.
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 instead to produce a civil version. This was achieved by fitting the two prototypes (VL515 and VL516) with new, more powerful engines as the "Pioneer II".
The prototype Pioneer II was the former prototype Pioneer I, (VL515) which was civil registered as G-AKBF. Powered by a 520 hp Alvis Leonides engine, and first flew on 5 May 1950. The second prototype Pioneer I (VL516) was similarly converted, and civil registered as G-ANAZ..  The Pioneer II demonstrated excellent STOL performance, and was ordered by the RAF as the Pioneer CC.1.
Production examples of the Pioneer CC.1 were fitted with full-span controlled leading-edge wing slats and large-area Fowler-type trailing edge flaps, giving a take-off run of 225 feet and a landing run of only 200 feet.
The first Pioneer CC.1 to be delivered to the RAF, on 11 August 1953, was serialled XE512. Ironically, XE512 was essentially the prototype Prestwick Pioneer I from 1947, re-engined with the Alvis Leonides engine, and refurbished for RAF use. (Thus, VL515 became G-AKBF,  and then returned to a military serial as XE512). The next three aircraft delivered (constructors numbers 102, 103 and 104) were likewise the second prototype VL516/G-ANAZ plus the partly completed third and fourth prototypes VL517 and VL518. As XE513, XE514 and XE515 they were delivered on 15 August 1953, 3 September 1953 and 10 February 1954 respectively. Two of these first batch of four are illustrated on this page.
Scottish Aviation Pioneer