Slingsby Falke

T.61 Falke
T61F Venture T2
Role	Basic Trainer
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Slingsby Sailplanes
First flight	1971
Primary user	Royal Air Force
Number built	76
Developed from	Scheibe SF 25B

The Slingsby Type 61 Falke was a licence-built version of the Scheibe SF 25B Motor glider built by Slingsby Sailplanes. It entered service with the Royal Air Force for air cadet training as the Slingsby Venture.

Contents 1 Development 2 Variants 3 Operators 4 Specifications (T61A) 5 See also 6 References

Development

In 1970 Slingsby acquired a licence to build the SF 25B as the Type 61A Falke, a side-by-side two-seat dual training monoplane. This first variant was powered by a 45 hp Starck Stamo MS1500 engine and first flew at Wombleton on 8 February 1971. During May 1971 one aircraft was evaluated by the Royal Air Force as the Venture T1 and an order for 15 aircraft followed. The aircraft were to be operated by the RAF Gliding Schools for basic air cadet training. Following replacement by the Grob Vigilant T1 they were all sold in 1990.

Variants

T61A

Production variant fitted with a Starck Stamo MS1500 engine with manual engine start, 26 built.

T61B

As T61A but fitted with a Franklin 2A-120-A engine, one built.

T61C

Production variant fitted with a Starck Stamo MS1500 engine with an electric engine start, 8 built.

T61D

One T61A refitted with Rollason R.S.1 engine in 1972.

T61E

Production aircraft for the RAF as Venture T2, 15 built later modified to T61F.

T61F

Production aircraft for the RAF with electric engine starter as the Venture T2, 15 T61Es modified and 25 built.

T61G

One aircraft powered by a Limbach SL1700 engine.

Venture T1

RAF designation for one T61A bought for evaluation in 1971.

Venture T2

RAF designation for production T61E and later T61F aircraft.

Operators

 United Kingdom

• Royal Air Force

Specifications (T61A)

This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.

General characteristics

• Crew: Two
• Length: 24 ft 11 in (7.6 m)
• Wingspan: 50 ft 4 in (15.33 m)
• Wing area: 188 ft² (17.47 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 13.4
• Empty weight: 740 lb (335 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,170 lb (530 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Starck Stamo MS1500, 45 hp ( kW)

Performance

• Maximum glide ratio: 22
• Rate of sink: 200 ft/min (1.00 m/s)

See also

• Air Training Corps
  

Related lists

• List of aircraft of the RAF
  

References

• Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3. London: Putnam. ISBN 0 370 10014 X. 

Aircraft produced by Slingsby Sailplanes and Slingsby Aviation Manufacturer designations T.1 · T.3 · T.4 · T.5 · T.6 · T.7 · T.8 · T.9 · T.12 · T.13 · T.14 · T.15 · T.18 · T.20 · T.21 · T.23 · T.24 · T.25 · T.26 · T.29 · T.30 · T.31 · T.34 · T.35 · T.37 · T.38 · T.41 · T.42 · T.43 · T.45 · T.46 · T.49 · T.50 · T.51 · T.53 · T.55 · T.56 · T.57 · T.58 · T.59 · T.61 · T.65 · T.66 · T.67 By name Cadet TX.1 · Cadet TX.2 · Cadet TX.3 · Capstan · Dagling · Dart · Eagle · Falcon I · Falcon II · Falcon 4 · Falke · Firefly · Grunau Baby · Grasshopper · Gull 2 · Gull 3 · Hengist · Kestrel · King Kite · Kirby Cadet · Kirby Kite 1 · Kirby Kite 2 · Kirby Tutor · Kirby Gull · Petrel · Phoenix · Prefect · Sedbergh · Skylark 1 · Skylark 2 · Skylark 3 · Skylark 4 · Swallow · Tandem Tutor · Vega · Venture · V-Liner

Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) Aircraft engines (manufacturers) Airlines (defunct) Airports Civil authorities Museums Registration prefixes Rotorcraft (manufacturers) Timeline Military Air forces Weapons Experimental Missiles Unmanned Accidents/incidents Commercial airliners (by location) Fatalities (by death toll) General aviation Military Records Airspeed Altitude Distance Endurance Firsts Most-produced aircraft