T53 Handling, further memories
 

Hi Baz

I have just been refreshing my memory on the improved handling of
the YS53 Sovereign. There were two improvements I failed to mention:

These were:

1. Vastly improved handling on aero tow by the fitting of a nose hook.
This reduced the stick forces required to reduce stick force to zero on tow at the extended aft CG making it possible to reduce strength of the trimmer springs.

2. Reduced out of trim stick forces made possible by '1' above.

Best Regards

GBW

Insults
 

Roys unfortunatly has a lot of opinions about people such as Bill Slater who are no longer here, matbe he should stick to facts!!!!

I had always meant to return to this thread but while googling for any updates I found that it looks like Tom Holland passed away in 2011 : (

I have many hours teaching on both the T53 and the YS53
 

I have many hours teaching beginner private student on both the T53 and the YS53 and can say both aircraft did a fantastic job. But when they were both on the line sitting next to each other, flyer beware. Whatever you did, you shouldnt get them mixed up as their individual flight characteristic were quite different from one another once off the launch. The T53 that I used, had domed rivets and the YS53 didn't. Wow what a difference. I could never have imagined how much drag domed rivets would cause. Since that time, I have build several aircraft and every to I reached for a rivet I can't help but think of these two aircraft.

The other difference that could really catch a student out was the difference in rudder performance. The YS53 had an extension added to the top of the rudder that real made it a easier aircraft to get a balanced turn going if new to flying.

At this point my memory of these two is fading, but I have recollection the the control loads were also lighter on the YS53.

Believe it or not, I would aerobat both of them regularly.

I have some very fond memories of these two. Look, I have flown awful contraption and some very nice ones but for whatever reason these two got me into flying in a big way and made me smile. If I came across one at the right price, call me crazy but I may just need to get it for old time sake.

Have Fun

Forgotten all about this thread, nice to see Slingsby gliders discussed.

Massive thread drift now; does anybody have any info on the development of the T59H...Kestrel 22.

Asking because I own it, the T59J, also a Kestrel 22 doesn't have the tail chute,
I think that is the only difference.
Cheers
Ian K

Solo in XV931
 

An interesting, nostalgic read. I was one of four cadets to attend a gliding course at Swanton Morley who rashly raised his hand to undergo training on XV951, with the caution that we might not go solo. All went well and I became the first to solo on type. I later got to meet Prince Phillip when he visited Kirbymoorside and still have the Slingsby company tie and T.53B colour brochure. If the T.53 did have excess adverse yaw, I didn't know about it at the time and the required rudder work obviously stood me in good stead as I later trained on taildraggers and am rebuilding one now.

Robert

As a “youngster” I’ve had to look-up the T53 and found that it was “the world’s most advanced two seat metal monocoque”


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8afb2b6147.jpg

Classic British Aviation Industry Advertisements 1909 - 1990

If you hadn't flown anything else before, I dare say you wouldn't have been aware of the adverse yaw; when I flew in '951 at Halton with Douggie King in the back seat, I was a P2 (G1 nowadays) and already had over 500 launches in Sedburgh/Prefect/Mk3 so to me it was immediately noticeable and I remember Douggie saying about it'