Slingsby T38 Grasshopper

Crew: 1
Length: 20 ft 8 in (6.3 m)
Wingspan: 39 ft 0 in (11.89 m)
Height: 7 ft 11 in (2.43 m)
Empty weight: 287 lb (130 kg)
Gross weight: 550 lb (250 kg)&#160;each

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

T38 Grasshopper
Type	Primary glider
Manufacturer	Slingsby Sailplanes Limited
Maiden flight	1952
Introduced	1952
Primary user	Royal Air Force
Number built	115

The Slingbsy T38 Grasshopper is a British primary training glider built by Slingsby Aviation for the Royal Air Force

[edit] Development

The design is based on a pre World War II German design modified to use the wing design of the Slingsby Cadet MkI glider. The design is cheap to manufacture and is designed to be stored dismantled. The type was used by Air Training Corps Squadrons between 1952 and the late 1980's.

The RAF designated the glider the Grasshopper TX1 and the first order was for 65 aircraft which were delivered in 1952 and 1953. It was later followed by two further orders for an additional 50 aircraft, the final delivery was made in 1963.

Launch is achieved through the use of a V shaped bungee or elastic rope pulled by a team of helpers. The glider can also be mounted on a pivoting tripod pointed into wind for the demonstration of controls.

The Grasshopper is virtually identical to the EoN Eton.