Historic flight News

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 1950’s and 60’s.

The Tutor was also produced for use by the Air Training Corps, being renamed as the Cadet TX Mk.2. Sixty-two Cadet TX Mk.2s were ordered from 1944. Eventually Slingsby sub-contracted Martin Hearn Ltd. to build twenty five T7 Kirby Cadets and a further twenty five new T8 Kirby Tutors, and total production was over 100 aircraft. The interchangeability of the components led to many hybrid aircraft, having wings and fuselages of different types mixed together.

XE761 is awaiting some restoration work to bring it back into service alongside our Prefect, Swallow, Grasshopper and (hopefully) a reconstructed Cadet TX Mk.1 to represent the range of early solo Air Cadet gliders.

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 to build over 250 Cadet T7s with another 170-180 being build under licence. Many and saw service overseas (including Canada, Eire, Palestine, Sri Lanka and South Africa).

The Cadet TX Mk.1 (heaver than the civilian version due to additional strengthening) was developed to Air Ministry specification 20/43 from the civilian Kirby Cadet to meet an Air Ministry requirement for a training glider as part of the air cadet programme, and it entered service as the Cadet TX Mk.1 with the Air Training Corps.

The RAF initially ordered 200 Cadet TX Mk.1s and eventually over 350 were delivered by the end of the 1950’s. However during this period the T7 was further developed with a change of wing into the T8 Kirby Tutor (service name Cadet TX Mk.2) and many of the original T7/TX Mk1. were converted to T8/TX Mk.2 “Tutors” by swapping the wings. Later the T8 Tutor was further developed into a two-seat version, the T31B Tandem Tutor (service name Cadet TX Mk.3).

Few of the initial version survived un-converted and they mostly live in museums (the photo above is of one in the Yorkshire Air Museum). However it is entirely possible to re-create a TX Mk1 by fitting Grasshopper wings to a Tutor fuselage & the Historic Flight plan to carry out this work and have a “Cadet Mk.1” back flying in Air Training Corps colours!

In 1948, Slingsby Sailplanes developed the 1932 Grunau Baby, which it had built under licence before World War II, into the Slingsby T.30 Prefect, an intermediate-level semi-aerobatic glider suitable for civil or military use.

The Prefect was sold both on the civil market, including the RAF Gliding and Soaring Association (RAFGSA), and to the Air Cadets who took delivery of 15 of the type, known as the Prefect TX.Mk.1 . In total 46 Prefects were built by Slingsby, with sales in Belgium, the Netherlands, Egypt, Israel and New Zealand, In addition, Bedek Aircraft Ltd built about seven aircraft under licence in Israel.

WE992 is in Air Cadet colours, owned by Al Stacey and is on long term loan and has been operated with the Flight since 2011. She has the earlier DFS-Type airbrakes – later models changed to “Schempp-Hirth” style brakes.

Based on the Grunau Baby design this was a common early solo glider in UK gliding clubs & the Air Training Corps. It offers better soaring performance than the T7/T8 Kirby Kadet (Tutor) & many civilian pilots in the 1950’s will have done their “Silver C” badge on this type.

The T31 was originally developed by Slingsby as a cheaper alternative to the T21, and designated the Cadet TX Mk.3 became the backbone of the Air Cadet wooden glider fleet. Not as popular as the T21 in civilian clubs (only about a dozen were in regular use in UK clubs), the T31 was not well suited to soaring – although soaring flights are possible in the right hands. However it was perfect for “bashing the circuit” and trained many thousands of Air Cadets to solo standard.

The exact number of these aircraft built is difficult to determine, known variously as T31, Cadet Mk3, TX3 or Tandem Tutor, the RAF took delivery of 126 TX Mk.3s in the 1950’s. Total production by Slingsby was 187 with aircraft going to countries as diverse as Pakistan, Lebanon and various countries in Africa. Another 27 were built from kits including small production runs in Argentina and Israel and 30-40 more built up from spares & crashed parts in UK and worldwide.

XA310 is particularly special as it was delivered to 87 Gliding School Weston Super Mare on 18 March 1953. 87 GS became 621 Volunteer Gliding School where XA310 spent its entire service career so it is particularly fitting to be able to operate this airframe as part of the 621 VGS Historic Flight. Now owned by A P Stacey, XA310 is on long term loan and has been operated with the Flight since 2011.

The Sedbergh TX Mk.1 is more affectionally known as “The Barge” (many civilian versions had individual names such as “Daisy”, “Buttercup” or even “Lady Godiva”). The T21B (its civilian designation) must rank as one of the best and most loved of Slingsby’s gliders. This two seat, side by side trainer is robust and delightful to fly. For instructors it was a stable training machine as well as an excellent soaring aircraft and it led the move from solo to dual training in civilian clubs.

First produced by Slingsby in the 1944 (without Air Ministry approval) the T21B version went into production in 1947. Popular with both civilian clubs and the Air Cadets the Sedbergh was produced in large numbers with a total production of around 220 gliders. The RAF Air Cadets received over 90 Sedberghs, with yet more going to the RAFGSA and the type remained in use until the mid-1980’s. Its side-by-side seating and good soaring ability makes it a popular glider with vintage enthusiasts today.

WB922 was delivered to the RAF College Cranwell 13th June 1949. Spending time at various locations in particular 662 VGS (Arbroath), 663 VGS (Aberdeen Airport) between 1965 and 1976 and “Centre” at Syerston (1981). Whilst in Scotland WB922 was used for the training and first solo of Prince Andrew whilst at Gordonstoun and has since become known as the “Royal Barge”. Ending its service days with 615 VGS (Kenley) WB922 passed through a number of civilian hands before joining 621 VGS Historic Flight in February 2004.

The development of the Cadet TX Mk.1 to TX M.2 led to a surplus of Cadet TX Mk1 wings, Slingsby designed a primary glider fuselage to fit these and designated it the Slingsby Grasshopper TX Mk.1 it entered Air Cadet service and was generally used by the CCF sections at Public Schools. Originally designed to be hung from an A frame so that cadets could experience the effects of the controls, once proficient cadets were then launched by bungee cord on either a ground slide or low hop.

A few more experienced (and brave!) pilots now winch launch these, although the poor performance normally allows only an abbreviated circuit….