Originally Posted by
3wheels
The vast majority of first solos were done on the T 31 (Mk3). Only those too large for the Mk3 were trained on the T21. Some sites only used T21s because of their small size. Obviously they sent all their cadets solo in the Barge.
The T21s main role was Air experience flying.
Thanks.
I guess I extrapolated from my personal experience without justification?
I was at Ouston for the A & B certificate and they operated only the T.21 for the few days (5?) I was there. Unfortunately
we were not able to finish and I only did one solo. I then went elsewhere a few months later and did another entire A & B course on the T.31 Tandem Tutor.
The T.31 had a much inferior glide ratio and I seem to recall that circuits lasted barely three minutes as opposed to almost five for the T.21 Sedbergh. On an early T.31 landing the instructor was horrified when I gently extended the spoilers to (quite appropriately I thought) steepen the descent as I had been instructed on the T.21. There was no drama and as I recall, after I landed I was asked "Did I tell you to use the spoilers?". I was told not to use them again.