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.

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 Volunteer 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)

T61F Venture T2

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)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Slingsby T.61 Falke.

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 Falcon T.3 Primary T.4 Falcon III T.5 Grunau Baby T.6 Kite T.7 Kirby Cadet T.8 Kirby Tutor T.9 King Kite T.12 Kirby Gull 1 T.13 Petrel T.14 Kirby Gull 1 T.15 Kirby Gull 1 T.18 Hengist T.20 T.21 T.23 Kite T.24 Falcon 4 T.25 Gull 4 T.26 Kite 2 T.29 Motor Tutor T.30 Prefect T.31 Tandem Tutor T.34 Sky T.35 Austral T.37 Skylark T.38 Grasshopper T.41 Skylark 2 T.42 Eagle T.43 Skylark 3 T.45 Swallow T.46 T.49 Capstan T.50 Skylark 4 T.51 Dart T.53 T.55 Regal Eagle T.56 Currie Wot T.57 T.58 T.59 Kestrel T.61 Falke T.65 Vega T.66 Tipsy Nipper T.67 Firefly

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 Kirby Gull Gull 2 Gull 3 Hengist Kestrel King Kite Kirby Cadet Kirby Kite 1 Kirby Kite 2 Kirby Tutor Petrel Phoenix Prefect Sedbergh Skylark 1 Skylark 2 Skylark 3 Skylark 4 Swallow Tandem Tutor Vega Venture V-Liner

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