Twin Pioneer Wreck, Bario
Primary tabs
The Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer was a capable airplane for short field take off & landings. The aircraft saw active duty in Borneo in the 1960s.
On the Friday of 11th September 1964, a Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer CC.1 operated by the Royal Air Force - RAF bearing the registration of XP294 landing at Bario on a wet runway, when it was swinging around it got too close to a ditch, causing the edge of the ditch to give way and the port undercarriage to become stuck. The aircraft was salvageable in this state, but was inevitably damaged beyond repair when the army attempted to drag it using ropes away from the runway. There were no fatalities in this event. Special thanks to David Somerville for providing more information on this event.
The usable parts of the aircraft was salvaged but the fuselage remained near the site next to a field to this day, having sat around for more than 50 years since its last ever landing.
Picture courtesy of wazari, from Instagram.
To explore this wreck, travel plans needed to include a flight to Bario.
Taman Seroja Food Center is located at Jalan Setia Raja. It is one of the older food centers in town selling muslim food and beverages and popular patronage among many Mirians.
Beautiful Jade Center is one of the older townships in Miri right at city center. Built up in the mid 1970s, business traffic remains strong today.
Located along China Street, Cathay Cinema was one of the three large purpose-built movie theatres in Miri. Like the other cinemas of the time, the building was basically a large hall with rows of seats within and a small stage at the end, with projector screens on the wall.