slingsby firefly
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slingsby firefly
I fancy trying out a Slingsby Firefly. So far I've found 2 places that have them:
Cambridge & Thruxton.
Does anyone know of any others within 2 hours drive of London?
Thanks
Cambridge & Thruxton.
Does anyone know of any others within 2 hours drive of London?
Thanks
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Does anyone know of any others within 2 hours drive of London? Thanks
I can do Cambridge-Gatwick in 1 hr 45
Cusco
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Slingsby Firefly
A bit further from London - 2hours25mins on the train from York - Full Sutton east of York has one along with an acclaimed instructor.
http://www.pprune.org/forums/archive.../t-147118.html
The above posts give some more detail.
http://www.pprune.org/forums/archive.../t-147118.html
The above posts give some more detail.
Join Date: Oct 2005
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The USAF Academy flew them as part of a flight training program for the cadets. After a very thorough evaluation following three fatalities, they destroyed all the aircraft...wouldn't even allow them to be sold.
cjboy is correct as far as I know. Anyway, other nation's airforces use them as a primary trainer. Can't remember them off hand, but I'm sure a ppruner will come along soon with the details.
Stapleford have at least one. I did an hour aerobatics in it - fabulous fun. Mind you, compared with a Cessna 152, any low-wing, high-power aircraft would be!
Stapleford have at least one. I did an hour aerobatics in it - fabulous fun. Mind you, compared with a Cessna 152, any low-wing, high-power aircraft would be!
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The last time I was at Stapleford, they were actually using the one from Cambridge - their own one was in the hangar being repaired - and apparently the one from Cambridge was rarely used, so Stapleford leased it. Best to check first if you're going to Cambridge !!
A little less conversation,
a little more aviation...
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Originally Posted by SNS3Guppy
...wouldn't even allow them to be sold.
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cjboy,
Its you who should get facts straight. The US tests could not find fault, they put them back into service, and still continued to have problems.
Of real concern should be the civil UK experience. I know of a number of expert pilots who cannot fault the aircraft. BUT, in the UK, just in the last 6 years, 5 people have been killed in three accidents from non recovery from spins, from a height where this should not be a problem. In two of the cases, it was with an instructor who was conducting training.
All should read the AAIB reports - these are the facts.
Its you who should get facts straight. The US tests could not find fault, they put them back into service, and still continued to have problems.
Of real concern should be the civil UK experience. I know of a number of expert pilots who cannot fault the aircraft. BUT, in the UK, just in the last 6 years, 5 people have been killed in three accidents from non recovery from spins, from a height where this should not be a problem. In two of the cases, it was with an instructor who was conducting training.
All should read the AAIB reports - these are the facts.
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In my (very) limited flying experience, I have to say, I was totally shocked at how easily and quickly the firefly just flips in to a spin with the 'wrong' control inputs (spin training post PPL)..
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I used to fly the Slingsby, and went through a pretty comprehensive spin training exercise before flying solo aerobatics. I have also spoken to two very experienced Slingsby instructors (who teach spin recovery in the T67 almost on a daily basis) and both stated that if you apply the correct spin recovery controls and keep them applied - it WILL stop. Every time.
If you don't, it won't.
So, the moral seems to be, allow plenty of height for your practice aeros and get the proper training.
If you don't, it won't.
So, the moral seems to be, allow plenty of height for your practice aeros and get the proper training.