Having limited types of gliders in use enabled use of some specialised equipment by the Volunteer Gliding Squadrons. Here you can see a tailor-made retrieve trolley which allowed for easy retreive of a Cadet Mk3 back to the launchpoint after landing – much more efficient than the normal tow-rope which required a walker at the […]
Author: HF JR
The Landrover
In the era of the wooden gliders, the schools were usually equipped with a variety of vehicles that were surplus to front line RAF use. In the 1970’s and 1980’s this was usually the Land Rover Series lla or lll, Truck, Utility, ½ ton ( commonly called a Lightweight ). For most 16 year old Staff Cadets […]
‘The Babe’ Winch
The Historic Flight winch, known as ‘The Babe’ winch, is a rare Wild Winch (originally used for barrage balloons) and Hullavington was the home of the RAF’s last Balloon unit. This winch is a Wild Mark 4, originally modified by 4 MU Ruislip and acquired from GSA Halton courtesy of 10 Regiment, Aldershot. Examining an […]
Slingsby T-53
In 1966 John Sellars, the new Slingsbys chief engineer made a design study for the T-52 – a proposed 14.6 meter tandem two seater aimed at replacing the ATC fleet of Cadet TX Mk,3 and Sedbergh TX Mk.1 gliders. The T-52 was never built but led to the T-53 prototype which flew the following year. […]
Falcon 4 TX.8/45
In 1944 the RAF Air Training Corps did not approve of the T21 design and so the Air Ministry produced their own specification, TX 8/45, which led to Slingsby producing the T24 known as the “Falcon 4”. The original Air Ministry specification was complex & demanding, seemingly written by a team familiar with powered aircraft […]
Slingsby Swallow TX Mk.1 – XS651
Designed as a first solo single-seater the Swallow T45 flew for the first time on 11 October 1957 and remained in production for 11 years. About 115-120 Swallows were completed (the uncertainty is due to the number of kits produced for self-build). The Air Cadets used 5 Swallows, with a further 9 in use by the […]
Slingsby T8 Cadet TX Mk.2 – XE761
The Slingsby T8 Kirby Tutor was initially developed for civilian use by adopting higher-aspect ratio wings, which gave a noticeable increase in soaring performance. Gliding clubs could also elect to buy the wings alone and fit them to Kirby Kadet fuselages as required and they were in common use as first solo gliders through the […]
Slingsby Cadet TX Mk.1 – “Coming Soon”
The Slingsby T7 Kirby Cadet was designed and built by Slingsby and first flew in 1935 and was produced through the 2nd World War until 1954. It saw service with the Royal Air Force for use by the Air Cadets as the Cadet TX Mk.1 as well as civilian use. Slingsby eventually went to on […]
Wing and a Prayer
After a couple of false starts, many complications delivered by the COVID situation and some significant efforts to make the trailer serviceable, the Sedbergh wings have undertaken a journey across the country and are now being worked on. We are now confident of a reasonably quick resolution to the fabric issues and hope to have […]
Sedbergh Repair Fund Launched
Your help is needed. Sadly the 621 Historic Flight flagship, the mighty Sedbergh, needs a repair in able to return to flight. We are currently seeking donations to cover the cost of the repair which is going to be in the region of £1,000. We will be providing the expertise and considerable labour to achieve […]