When the PIONEER series sailplanes was first conceived
many years ago, we wanted to design and build a homebuilt that
would be the simplest, highest performance, sport sailplane
at a reasonable cost, we wanted a sailplane that was truly
a fun sailplane, one that would spend the greatest time in
the air with a minimum amount of effort and expense to keep
it there.

What was needed was a sailplane that would stay
aloft in marginal conditions even with a novice at the controls
A sailplane that would inspire confidence in the pilot through
the aircraft's 'lack' of bad flying habits. It's performance
must be great enough, in glide angle and penetration, to be
capable of excellent cross-country abilities and badge flying,
Rugged enough to take club type operations and off-the-field
landings. It must have outstanding auto-towing characteristics
for flying where soaring facilities are not available. Last
but not least, we looked for home construction and storage in
a standard 2 car garage.

The PIONEER IA possessed all the desired characteristics
we dreamed of for the ideal 'fun' sailplane. It has outstanding
soaring capabilities, accompanied with very good- handling and
stability characteristics. Those pilots who were qualified
and had the courage to fly such an unusual sailplane became
as excited over the PIONEER as we were. This response, along with the many inquires we had received, encouraged the development of a third design built around the PIONEER IA. So here we have the PIONEER II, a smaller, easier to build, lighter, and lower cost sailplane than the PIONEER IA.

Despite the many inner improvements, the PIONEER II is aerodynamically the same aircraft as the PIONEER IA. Although ailerons are utilized on the PIONEER II, rather than spoilers as used on the PIONEER IA, flight characteristics are not expected to
differ significantly between the two designs. Any attempt
to jazz up the performance of the PIONEER II through increased
aspect ratio, resulting in higher wing loading, will only
yield higher landing speeds, reduced maneuverability.   Greater
difficulty to stay in the small narrow thermals, and reduce
the number of days one can go soaring due to marginal thermal
conditions. This destroys the whole idea of the week-end type
'sport' sailplane.

The PIONEER feels right at home on any type of tow, whether
it be by airplane, winch or auto.  A 20 foot "V" bridle connected
to the tow hooks (one on either side of the fuselage under the
wings leading edges) very near to the aircraft's center of gravity
provides for a very smooth tow without the feeling that you are being led around by the nose.   Auto tows are spectacular, altitude gained is 1/3 to 1/2 the length of the runway in very light winds.

With the aircraft's main wheel located slightly aft the C. G. there has been found no tendency for the ship to ground loop. When landing the sailplane without dive brakes open and at a speed 10-mph over stall or more the ship will literally bounce off the around cushion at perhaps 2 feet off the ground. A normal approach with dive brakes extended this ground cushion affect is barely noticeable due to the high energy absorption of the air brakes.

The PIONEER II has been designed to an ultimate design load
factor of 10 at a gross flying weight of 650 pounds.

Maximum pilot weight             230 lbs.
Minimum pilot weight             125 lbs.
Auto/Winch tow max. vel.         70 mph
Air tow max, vel.               100 mph
Maneuvering velocity             80 mph
Never exceed velocity            130 mph