For a change, an airfield the Army hasn't ruined!!(Yet?)

WE992

Great photos. Thanks.

Dave

PS. How was that last photo (from the Swallow) taken?

GOPRO mounted on the carrying handle on the rear fuselage. The first time I had used the GOPRO.

Very nostalgic - flew T21 and Mk3 at Swanton Morley............in 1962! T21 at Cranwell in 63 and 63 including an aerotow Cranwell to Weston Super Mare at Easter!

Great Pictures WE992!!


Makes me wish we could get our Prefect out! Slight issue of no CofA!!


Here's a few of pics.......


https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/...71&oe=5561BF56


https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/...a8&oe=554EB297


https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...0ffc9ae625e040

......Also a quick one pre-restoration!


https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...29ec1434ca5e36

For a moment, thought I'd flown '990, but checking in my log book, we had '987 and '993 at Halton in the mid '60s, my last Prefect flight being in '987 on 12 Aug 67 total time 4 hr 17 min, longest flight 24 min.
Two of us, both P1's, were briefed how to fly it on the same day, (4 Sep 65) the 'check' pilot being Sqdn Ldr 'Toppy' Topsfield. He emphasised how we MUST achieve final approach speed before opening the airbrakes as they were so effective, you wouldn't be able to accelerate once they were open.

Yep, the air brakes certainly are effective!

I like the photo of 990 with the Grasshopper at Lasham. Its a shame that the Barge in the background is not parked where the K13 is!

Indeed!


Reminds me of the lineup of 5 Barges at the Tibenham rally. (See below)
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...6e0948b0eb4657




Also, here's a couple of Slingsby old-school line ups from the same rally......
https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/...07&oe=55481DA0




https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/...98&oe=555F4204

Hi, Chevron. I remember as a 613 Staff Cadet, being briefed by Jacko and flying the Prefect after lunch. Bit different after the Mk 3!!. That was [no logbook] probably in 1959. S'Ldr Topsfield was around in my heyday, and was with us when we went on an advanced course at Halesland. Only one of us got a 'C', because the wind was not conducive to ridge soaring whilst I was there. The Prefects we flew there were HORRIBLE compared to the Halton one, seemingly pretty badly rigged, and awfully out of trim IIRC!!. Nice to see all the old names coming up. Huge amount of experienced instructors if they were still around in your day, as well as mine!!.

I've got WB971 in my logbook; that was at Halton, but it had that horrible canopy fitted.

JEM60; yes Toppy was there with Jacko as boss of course; Phil Plows was CFI. I helped out winch driving on a summer course; Chris Rollings relieved me and sent me to the launch point and Phil said 'fly that one, I'm not going to bother with a check flight, as far as I'm concerned you're P1 as from now'.
Then there was Ken Bayliss. One saturday, very gusty and bit of a crosswind as there was a Scout camp occupying the airfield so we couldn't operate directly into wind. Anyway, I did a launch with KGB, then another and another, 5 in all. Then he says 'stay in' and goes away, coming back a minute later with a cadet; 'nice safe flying in these conditions' he says ' so you can now take your first air experience cadet.
Suddenly and most unexpected I was a P2!!
I got my 'C' in VX275 (before I broke it) during a detachment to Bovingdon; wonder if anyone from 617 GS ever got a 'C' there.

Cheers Chevron. I never got to a P.1. Other things intervened, and I couldn't give it the commitment it needed. I look upon my time there as quite some of the happiest moments of my life [excluding family, of course!]. I LOVED winching, and apparently was good at it. After a poor bit of flying on my part, I was punished by Jacko, and winched for a whole month of week-ends. Phil Plows took me aside and told me that this would be happening, and was kind enough to advise me not to let it get me down. Ken Bayliss I flew with frequently, and I last saw him at Tony Wick's [a near neighbour] funeral. A nice guy, we got on well. What wonderful days they were, and great to have such responsibility in those days. When we are entertaining friends, they ask me what I used to do when I was young, and I relate my Halton experience to them with great enthusiasm, and more than a little pride. I loved it there!. Regards, John.

Looking for pictures
 

I first flew with what was then, No.42 Gliding School at RAF Cosford on August 6,1955 with initial 2 launches in Sedbergh WB926, followed by 23 more launches in MkIII Cadets, WB870 and then went solo in Cadet MkIII XA290 on August 11. I stayed on and eventually became a civilian instructor and completed some 800+ more launches before joining the RAF in 1958 on a short service commission flying Provosts (9 cylinder radial) and then Vampiresn.

Would love to see some pics of Sedbergh WB926 and Cadet MkIIIs WT870 and XA290 if any exist

here you go...
http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/bga5628.jpg
and the other one...
http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/wb926.jpg

Does anyone know if the on-airfield recovery trailers were ever used with the T21 Sedburgh?

I've seen several photos with the T31/Mk3 on them but never a T21.

This is the type of trailer I mean:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3511/3...64fc8231_b.jpg

Yes we used them a little, but the weight and twisting moment of the T21 damaged the trailer so we stopped.

UV, Thanks for the reply.

Do you think that the trailer you had was originally intended for the T31/Mk3, and that the shorter nose on the T21 put the glider wheel ahead of the trailer axle, thus causing the problems you describe?

You can probably guess by now that I'm thinking how to design a similar trailer that would work satisfactorily for a T21!

Mechta... yes we used an ordinary T31 trailer.
The T21 being heavier, and longer wingspan, used to snap the arms of the trailer and cause other damage. It was just not man enough for the job.
Much more I cannot remember as it was so long ago!

I think you will find that there is more than one type of trailer. I have one for the T.21 which appears to be much more robust than the one I have for the T.31.