Slingsby Type 31/ Cadet TX Mk.3
 

In the current issue of Pilot magazine I postulate that "it is quite possible that the T-31 (known within the Services as the Cadet TX Mk.3 or Tandem Tutor, has introduced more people to flight – and certainly solo flight -than any other British-built aircraft." So my question is, how many of you did go solo (or take your first ever flight where you handled the controls) in a -31?

Sedbergh TX.1 for me. (Slingsby T.21)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slingsby_T.21
Number built ca. 226

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slingsby_Tandem_Tutor
Surely can't have been much in it in terms of first solos?

Hi

The T21 was my first ride and Solo. Under the guise of Daisy the Air Scouts Glider at Lasham. Solo on the 8th Sept 1963!!

Mike

Slingsby T21 in 1958

Thanks All. I thought the T.21 would run the -31 a close second! My reasoning for the -31 is based on the fact the RAF had more 31s than 21s. It took delivery of 126 Cadet TX Mk.3s between 1951 and 1959, and operated them up to around 1986, and as most of those flew well in excess of 25,000 flights each (of which the vast majority were air experience flights) I think that just the Air Cadets’ TX Mk.3s flew in excess of three million launches! There were also quite a few civilian ones. Impressively, an ATC Mk.3 is on record as having logged a staggering 120,000 launches!

First flight at age 15 on 19.8.72 in T21 WB924 RAF Ternhill.First flight in T31 XA292 on 16/9/72.First solo 24.6.73 in T31 XN242. Just 9 days after my 16th birthday.

Cadet Mk. 3, No. 1 Gliding Centre, Hawkinge. Age 15.9 :)
1st dual winch 14 Aug 61
1st solo winch 18 Aug 61

https://i319.photobucket.com/albums/...donAirWing.jpg

Thanks 3wheels, all interesting stuff. I did actually write "or take your first ever flight where you handled the controls" (my first ever flight was in a -21) but it does certainly look like the 31 wins the 'First Solo' prize!

Soloed on the T31 at Spitalgate, around 1973 I think it was.

1960-61, did all my dual in a T 21, but was sent solo in a Tutor Mk II. At that time the T21 was only normally flown with two up, and only later was it modified to have a ballast block fitted in the nose, so that it could be used solo.. Having said "normally flown two up", I do recall it being flown once with one pilot and a tea urn strapped into the other seat. No doubt highly illegal.

First solo
 

T31 for me in1960 ISTR that the official nose ballast bomb for solo flight did not come in for a couple of years after that.I never liked it much the glider felt too light and seemed to float around not fly as nicely as when two up

Did my A&Bs as an ATC cadet on both T21s and T31s at Tangmere in the mid 70s (solo'd in both). Put down for a soaring course but never managed to get one (places on the soaring courses were like hens's teeth). Then went on to do a flying scholarship on Beagle Pups at Biggen, which I extended to get my PPL a few weeks later.

PDR

Cadet Mk III WT919, Kirton Lindsey March 7th 1960. The start of almost 59 years (and still counting) gliding.

ShotOne reminded me as being addressed as Sir when asking for 'wing up for checks, take up slack etc.' Nearly as much of a surprise as being addressed as Mr 'F2' on my first job interview at around the same time.

First flight, Avro Anson at Colerne, aged 13;first time handling the aircraft, AEF Chipmunk, RAF Yeadon (now Leeds/Bradford Airport) aged 14

Soloed on T21 at Lindholme, 1967. Just in time to get posted out.

Re-Soloed on T21 at Locking 1970

IG

First solo T21 with South Yorkshire Air Activities section of the Scouts RAF Lindholm 1978. 20,000 hours later I never get called sir!

In the mid 1960s at 631 GS RAF Sealand I think we had an equal number of T31s and T21s (3 of each ?). Although I did most of my gliding and first solo in the Sedbergh, I don't recall my size being a factor. I was average height and weight ..... and like to think that I still am! ;) During my time at 631 I also flew the Mk3, including some solos.

Mk III, Serial number lost in the mists of time, and whatever dragon under the bed that ate my 3822. RAF Syerston some time in the mid 1970. First solo.
They say the first time is always the best, but solo-ing Chipmunk, Gazelle and then Lynx were pretty good too.

I went solo on T-31B Cadet TX.3, serial WT906, 26th October 1980 at Kirknewton. I remember it like it was yesterday. Happy days!

Nice to see that WT906 is still about as G-BRVJ (Motorised)

https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1626507

First 3 solos in Mk3 XA305 at 613 GS Halton on 7 Nov 1964; they were my 9th, 10th and 11th launches that day having done 6 (with 2 practice cable breaks) with an instructor then 2 check flights with Jacko, the CO.
I don't know if it was standard procedure at all schools but normally, all cadets doing 'proficiency' training (as it was called in those days) at 613 were given 3 trips in the side by side T21b Sedbergh to learn primary and further effects of controls, watching how the instructor handled the controls then trying it yourself, then if you were deemed to be of suitable size you 'converted' to the Mk3 and did the rest of your proficiency training (apart from stalls and spins; not allowed to intentionally spin the Mk3 so you didn't stall it either just in case the stall developed into a spin) on that; too big or heavy and you stayed on the Sedbergh until you soloed with the 'bomb' installed in the nose of the aircraft.
Before going solo, I did 12 launches total in the Sedbergh and 23 in the Mk3. Yes I know many did it quicker but I was only a 'weekender' thus the first one or two launches of the weekend were to go over what I had done the previous weekend so having commenced on the first weekend after my 16th birthday, I soloed just over a month after it.

Mid 1940's, RAF Kenley. Kirby Cadet - solo was the only thing available! (Yes, I know, I know, wrong forum . . . .). But thought you'd like to know, there were some good thermals from the pig farm in Caterham valley.

First flight - Air Experience in a Wessex at Odiham age 13 1968. First flight where given controls - Chipmunk at White Waltham 1969. First solo - Cadet Mark 3 at Halton 1971 aged 16 :)

Mid 1970s Kenley, Kirby Cadet Mk3 - First ever flight in anything and had a cable break at about 300Ft AGL It was a very short flight! Couldn't believe the climb angle whilst being winched. I got another 2 or 3 launches later that afternoon. The last trip being in a Sedbergh.

For some reason, our ATC Flight from New Malden didn't get to do much gliding. :hmm:

As Chevvron posted - certainly by the mid/late 60's it was quite normal to give each cadet 2 or 3 trips in a T21 to learn primary and further effects of controls and therefore being able to see how the instructor handled the controls.
The vast majority of cadets would have done the bulk of their training and go solo in the T31/Mk3.
As 3wheels posted - with the Mk3 flights we used the retrieve trolleys to whip the cadet back to the launch point (still strapped into the seat) and they would be off on their next trip in no time :)

For me 1st solo with 644 GS at Spitalgate in the summer of '69 (someone should write a song with that title LOL).
I later joined the staff at 613 GS Halton (1970-72) and used to chuckle at the cadets calling me 'Sir' - at that time I was a Corporal Crafty Apprentice and greatly enjoyed taking cadets up for Air Experience Flights.

My first ever flight was in a Cadet Mk 3 at RAF Swanton Morley in 1966. First solo in the Mk 3 February 1968. I can still remember the pre take off checks (CISTRS) as taught back then.
Happy days, sliding across a snowy airfield in an open top glider. Thanks to everyone at 611 VGS who made it happen for me and hundreds like me.

A bloke on the WRAF training depot; how did you pull that?

When I had got a lot of air experience flights under my belt as a P2 (G1 nowadays) I was tasked with doing these initial flights probably with a view to my becoming a 'C' Cat. Managed to avoid that by leaving school and getting a job away from the area.

First three solos in a Mk3 at RAF St Athan in about 1957. Started instructing in them about 12 years later at RAF Old Sarum. Last flew one about 3 years ago at Hullavington with the Vintage Gliding Group.

After a few familiarisation flights in a Sedbergh, first solo in a T-31 after several launches with the late great Derek Piggott as instructor, at HCGIS Detling in 1952.

T31 at Spitalgate in 1974 for me. I remember the daily charge was 9p, so for an eleven day course to solo I paid the grand total of 99p. I therefore could say I learnt to fly for less than a pound! Can't give any more details on dates and serials as I'm away from home doing stuff at Wyton (where messing and PAYD charges are somewhat greater...)

Ah yes,I remember that was the mnemonic in 1972,but a couple of years later ISTR it was changed to CBSITCB.

It was a tough gig but somebody had to do it :)

It was my closest gliding unit - we lived in peterborough at that time (yuk !!)

I think it changed to CBSITCB circa 1971 (At Air Cadet Gliding Schools).

It then changed to CBSIFTCB (Flaps)
Then later 'E' was added (Eventualities)
I have very recently returned to gliding after a long break and the one thing I was confident that I could remember was CBSIFTCBE.
Well blow me down they changed it the day before my first flight :) - ok that put paid to me sounding confident with pre flight checks :)
It is currently CBSIFTBEC
Controls/Ballast/Straps/Instruments/Flaps/Trim/Brakes/Eventualities/Canopy

I was taught CISTRS with Air Cadets but did a day at Lasham in '66 where they used CBSITCB, apparently a BGA standard term.
Later at Halton (1990s) we used CBSITCBE on the microlights, the 'E' being check engine instruments.

First flight in a T31. First solo in a T31. First flight as instructor in a T31 (in 1964).

Course if Air Cadets had kept the Mk3 going, Air Cadet gliding wouldn't be in the mess it is now.
Low performance, easy to maintain, perfect for getting as many people solo in as short a time as possible so they could wear their gliding badge on their uniform.
Did anyone hear about how a sheep got killed by one at Gaydon?