Slingsby T-53b Glider For hire at Andreas Airfield

Description

Slingsby T-53b Club Glider & Glider Training

Best Glide Ratio – 29:1 | Tail Number – CTD | BGA Number – 1787

The T53b was designed in the late ’60’s as a two-seat metal sailplane. At the time Slingsby Sailplanes were looking to the future & at the time that seemed to point towards metal sailplanes.

The Royal Air Force were considering the modernisation of its fleet of aging T31’s & T21’s used by the Air Cadet Volunteer Gliding Schools throughout the U.K. Slingsby, located at Kirkbymoorside in Yorkshire really coveted the huge commercial benefit of their new T53b being selected for the replacement for the Royal Air Force’s Air Cadet fleet.

One aircraft was sent to the Ministry of Defence Evaluation Centre at Boscombe Down & following preliminary testing another was dispatched to the RAF Central Gliding School. However, the project was doomed following a disastrous fire at the factory which nearly ended Slingsby’s days. The T53B was not adopted by the Air Cadet Gliding Schools & the old T31’s & T21’s served the service for a further 15 years.

When Yorkshire Sailplanes took over the production they added their own modifications to this aircraft & it became the prototype YS53. This example of a T53b was one of the prototypes.