Slingsby Type 31/ Cadet TX Mk.3
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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If it wasn't for the ATC instilling a sense of discipline in me, I know I would have ended up with a life of regret and dashed hopes.
Our CO was a member of the Pathfinders (he had the golden badge beneath his Nav wing) and was on Mosquitoes, a true gentleman and Officer who was in charge over a band of young men looking for leadership (Now at this stage in life I realize what he had done).
In our squadron one of our cadets went on to be a Nav on Buccaneers and my secondary school classmate (Yes we both failed our 11plus) went on to be Captains at Etihad and United Airlines today on the A-330 and 767 respectively after being given the chance to solo on gliders at Cosford.
Others went on to fruitful lives outside of aviation.
Without the Corps giving us chance, we would never have realized our potential.
Many grateful thanks to the ATC !
If only we could have the same sense of self control for our newer generations today , things would be so different !
Our CO was a member of the Pathfinders (he had the golden badge beneath his Nav wing) and was on Mosquitoes, a true gentleman and Officer who was in charge over a band of young men looking for leadership (Now at this stage in life I realize what he had done).
In our squadron one of our cadets went on to be a Nav on Buccaneers and my secondary school classmate (Yes we both failed our 11plus) went on to be Captains at Etihad and United Airlines today on the A-330 and 767 respectively after being given the chance to solo on gliders at Cosford.
Others went on to fruitful lives outside of aviation.
Without the Corps giving us chance, we would never have realized our potential.
Many grateful thanks to the ATC !
If only we could have the same sense of self control for our newer generations today , things would be so different !
Keil Kraft made a 24" wingspan 'Kirby Prefect' and Veron made a 30" wingspan 'Slingsby Prefect', but I'm not sure whether the T31 ever appeared in model form.
Replica kits of both Prefects are available from https://www.vintagemodelcompany.com/ . (I have no financial interest in the company)
Replica kits of both Prefects are available from https://www.vintagemodelcompany.com/ . (I have no financial interest in the company)
I can'r remember which company did the T31 model, but I do remember building one, painted as WT919 (my A&B steed at Kirton Lindsey in 1960), flying it a few times with no damage (amazingly) and 'presenting' it to 168 City of Leeds ATC Squadron when I left home to Join the RAF later that year. 30 inch span sounds about right. It was hanging in the ceiling there the following year when I revisited it wearing my JT stripe.
(Edit) after a brief search, my memory was jogged, and it was scratch built from an Aeromodeller 1958 plan, now can be found on https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=2108
F2
(Edit) after a brief search, my memory was jogged, and it was scratch built from an Aeromodeller 1958 plan, now can be found on https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=2108
F2
Thread Starter
Before this thread finally fades away I thought a few of you might enjoy this picture of WT900's front cockpit - I'm sure that it will bring back many happy and vivid memories!
Join Date: Dec 2010
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I am surprised that there has only been one mention of 631 VGS at RAF Sealand on this thread. I did my 3 solo's there in June 1967 in WV925, whilst a member of 611 Squadron (2nd City of Liverpool) ATC.
Great article in PILOT Dave, and I endorse everything positive that's been said about the ATC, and the shamefull lack of flying experience available to youngsters. My experience with the ATC engendered a lifetime interest in aviation, which continues to this day.
Great article in PILOT Dave, and I endorse everything positive that's been said about the ATC, and the shamefull lack of flying experience available to youngsters. My experience with the ATC engendered a lifetime interest in aviation, which continues to this day.
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Might I also refer anyone who missed it to the wonderful thread "Air Cadets Gliding Pix in the 80's (pre glass)" which appeared on the Pprune "Aviation History and Nostalgia" some years back. I'm sure someone more adept than me can do a link, but otherwise use the Search Facility
First aeroplane I drove and soloed in was a cadet Mk 111 at Burtonwood [was it 635 GS ?] in early cold 1970, just before my 17th Birthday and before it was turned into the M62.
Seem to recall the main flight instrument was a piece of red string tied to the top of the pitot tube that rose like a swan neck from just in front of the wind screen. The plan was to keep it fore and aft and not pointing off to one side. No mean feat with numb feet despite 2 pairs of socks and a pair of Air Cadet boots to keep the cold out
Edit to say that said piece of red string is clearly visible in Dave's post 79. :-)
Seem to recall the main flight instrument was a piece of red string tied to the top of the pitot tube that rose like a swan neck from just in front of the wind screen. The plan was to keep it fore and aft and not pointing off to one side. No mean feat with numb feet despite 2 pairs of socks and a pair of Air Cadet boots to keep the cold out
Edit to say that said piece of red string is clearly visible in Dave's post 79. :-)
Last edited by Dave Gittins; 1st Feb 2019 at 13:51. Reason: Spotted the red string
Yes, the well-known red string slip indicator, sometimes seen with a little dayglo cone on the end to stop it fraying.
Poor man's yaw vane - and very effective!
50 years on I can almost smell the wood, varnish, dope and paint of Dave's cockpit photo - and hear the creaking!
Poor man's yaw vane - and very effective!
50 years on I can almost smell the wood, varnish, dope and paint of Dave's cockpit photo - and hear the creaking!
Yes, the well-known red string slip indicator, sometimes seen with a little dayglo cone on the end to stop it fraying.
Poor man's yaw vane - and very effective!
Poor man's yaw vane - and very effective!
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Happy memories of when the ATC delivered! Did my time 'backwards' somehow. Flying Schol. on Tiger Moths at Croydon airport summer of 1955. G-ANDE and G-ANEW - both still flying! My ATC squadron didn't seem to do gliding, so I talked myself onto an autumn course at St Athan whilst there at 1956 summer camp. Solo after 10 launches then given the Bedford pick-up to double declutch pulling cables. Reward was a chance for a 'C' licence in a Cadet 3 - which I took. The cadet exchange to Canada the following year convinced me to join up! Oh yes - the ATC delivered.
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Like everyone else, I did my training on the 'Berg and the T31. But my first solo was on a Mark I Cadet, because the other aircraft were in use at the time. I was sent off with lots of warnings ringing in my ears about adverse yaw (which was a feature of the model), but nothing came amiss, except for being towed up straight into lift! That can mess up a simple circuiit! Do you turn early to get out of the lift, or do you carry straight on at the top of the tow until the lift goes away? But it all worked out, anyway.
On another occasion, I was nearly towed under a truck which was driven across in front of me as the tow line was tightening and the T31 was beginning to move. The truck fortunately cleared as I left the ground, but the instructor on the ground had shouted "stop" and the signaller to the winch had relayed this to the winch driver, thus giving me a "cable break" for real. We neither of us thought to 'pull the tit' which would have been the proper thing to do.
The truck driver would have owed me a whole crate of beers after that, but of course I was too young.
On another occasion, I was nearly towed under a truck which was driven across in front of me as the tow line was tightening and the T31 was beginning to move. The truck fortunately cleared as I left the ground, but the instructor on the ground had shouted "stop" and the signaller to the winch had relayed this to the winch driver, thus giving me a "cable break" for real. We neither of us thought to 'pull the tit' which would have been the proper thing to do.
The truck driver would have owed me a whole crate of beers after that, but of course I was too young.
The majority of Mk 3s we had at 613 Halton didn't even have spoliers so you had to learn to judge your landings correctly.
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I only just saw this thread, thanks to Astir 8 pointing it out in the "Air Cadets Gliding" thread. Fantastic to look through the preceding posts and those fine pictures. I note that at least a couple of the posters are from Peterborough, and I am yet another. So I was in 115 Squadron ATC, and did my gliding at Hawkinge on the Cadet Mk 3 in September/ October 1958 (WT918 and XA 282). Instructors Matthews, Mares, Ladley, Whittenbury. Soloed in XA282 (that still exists). I had already done a PPL at Cambridge on Marshalls' Tiger Moths (same sort of glide as the T31!). Went on to do more gliding in the French Alps and pursued my powered flying to FAA IR level. Stopped flying in 2016. Great thread.
Laurence
Laurence
Are the spoilers there as an approach aid? I always thought they were only there so I could twitch the individual cables by my left shoulder to simulate turbulence (or unsettle an over-confident pupil) 
