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Slingsby Aviation

January 07, 2023

Slingsby Aviation was a British aircraft manufacturer based in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, England. The company was founded to design and build gliders and sailplanes. From the early 1930s to around 1970 it built over 50% of all British club gliders and had success at national and international level competitions.[1] It then produced some powered aircraft, notably the composite built Firefly trainer, before becoming a producer of specialised composite materials and components.

Marshall Slingsby Advanced Composites
Marshall Slingsby Advanced Composites logo
IndustryAerospace
Founded1931
FounderFred Slingsby
Headquarters
Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire
,
United Kingdom
Key people
Carl Morse, General Manager[citation needed]
Productsgliders, light aircraft
OwnerMarshall of Cambridge
Websitemarshalladvancedcomposites.com

The business is now known as Marshall Advanced Composites and produces composite parts for ships, submarines and aircraft. It is a subsidiary of Marshall of Cambridge.

History

The business was founded in Scarborough by Frederick Nicholas Slingsby, an RAF pilot in World War I. In 1920 he bought a partnership in a woodworking and furniture factory in Queen Street, Scarborough. In 1930 Slingsby was one of the founders of the Scarborough Gliding Club. After repairing some of the club's gliders, Slingsby's business built its first aircraft, a German designed RRG Falke which flew in 1931. By late 1933 Slingsby was advertising training gliders for sale. In 1934, encouraged by a local landowner, the business moved to Kirkbymoorside, some 30 miles from Scarborough, operating as Slingsby, Russell & Brown Ltd. As demand for gliders built up, a new factory was needed and built in Welburn, just outside Kirkbymoorside. This opened in July 1939, when Slingsby Sailplanes Ltd was founded.[1] The best selling Slingsby glider in the pre-World War II period was the Primary.[2]

During the war Slingsby built parts for other company's aircraft as well as their own military glider, the Slingsby Hengist, though the latter did not see action. Towards the end of the war and afterwards the company produced large numbers of training gliders for the Air Training Corps (ATC). After the war Slingsby continued to make increasingly refined gliders for civilian use in clubs and competitions. Their greatest success was with the Sky at the 1952 World Gliding Championships, which finished in first, third and fourth place. The later Slingsby Skylark series was their post war best seller. Slingsby began to move toward glass reinforced plastic (GRP) and metal construction methods, but the company, trading as Slingsby Aircraft Ltd since 1967, went into liquidation in July 1969 following a disastrous fire in the previous November.[1]

 
Slingsby Firefly T67M of the UK Defence Elementary Flying Training School, used for training Army and Navy student pilots.

After this Slingsby became part of the Vickers Group in November 1969, initially as Vickers-Slingsby Sailplanes Ltd, then reverting to the old name of Slingsby Sailplanes Ltd, and original design declined, though they built versions of other aircraft, both powered and unpowered. Slingsby’s last glider, which was also their last original design, was the GRP Slingsby T.65 Vega. This ceased production in 1982, by which time high performance sailplane design had moved away from the UK.[3] During the upheavals in the British aerospace and marine sector the company became Slingsby Engineering, part of the public/private holding company British Underwater Engineering (UBE).[4] In July 1982 Slingsby Aviation was set up by, and as part, of Slingsby Engineering.[failed verification][4] Slingsby Aviation passed from UBE to ML holdings in 1993,[4] then to Cobham plc in December 1995. Slingsby's last aircraft was the T-67 Firefly, a two-seater military training aircraft, originally a René Fournier design but structurally reworked by Slingsby into a wholly composite machine. At this time Slingsby Aviation employed around 130 people on its 12,220 square metre (131,000 square feet) site. The company had its own airfield at Kirkbymoorside with a 750-metre reinforced grass runway. Slingsby Aviation’s SAH 2200 hovercraft has operated in such varied regions as the Arctic Circle and Africa. Two are seen in the James Bond film, Die Another Day.

On 10 August 2006 the name of the company was changed to Slingsby Advanced Composites.[5] Since then the company was owned by three individuals and was no longer a part of Cobham plc.

 
Logo used in 2013

On 8 January 2010 the UK company Marshall Aerospace bought Slingsby Advanced Composites Ltd which currently trades as Marshall Slingsby Advanced Composites.[6]

In 2020, Marshall Slingsby Advanced Composites won the Aerospace Company of the Year in the Corporate Live Wire North England Prestige Awards.[7]

Aircraft

 
Baynes Bat third scale experimental tank carrier, not a Slingsby design but built by them
 
Hengist 15 seat military glider

References

  1. ^ a b c Ellison 1971, pp. 45–55
  2. ^ Ellison 1971, pp. 254–271
  3. ^ Simons 1996, p. 253.[clarification needed]
  4. ^ a b c "Assessment of Slingsby Engineering". World Technology Evaluation Center. June 1994 – via WTEC Hyper-Librarian.
  5. ^ Company registration details Company No. 01688938 Companies House.
  6. ^
  7. ^ "Awards success for Ryedale firm".
  • Ellison, Norman (1971). British Gliders and Sailplanes. London: A & C Black Ltd. ISBN 0713611898.
  • Slingsby Sailplanes, by Martin Simons, Airlife Publishing 1996 ISBN 1-85310-732-8: drawings, descriptions and many photographs of all Slingsby gliders.
  • Taylor, Michael J.H. . Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation". Studio Editions. London. 1989. ISBN 0-517-69186-8
  • Coates, Andrew. "Jane's World Sailplanes & Motor Gliders". 2nd edition. London, Jane's. 1980. ISBN 0-7106-0017-8
  • Simons, Martin. "Sailplanes 1920–1945". 2nd revised edition. EQIP Werbung und Verlag G.m.b.H.. Königswinter. 2006. ISBN 3-9806773-4-6
  • Simons, Martin. "Sailplanes 1945–1965". 2nd revised edition. EQIP Werbung und Verlag G.m.b.H.. Königswinter. 2006. ISBN 3-9807977-4-0
  • Simons, Martin. "Sailplanes 1965–2000". 2nd revised edition. EQIP Werbung und Verlag G.m.b.H.. Königswinter. 2005. ISBN 3-9808838-1-7

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Slingsby Aviation.
  • Marshall Advanced Composites website
  • History of Slingsby

January 07, 2023
slingsby, aviation, british, aircraft, manufacturer, based, kirkbymoorside, north, yorkshire, england, company, founded, design, build, gliders, sailplanes, from, early, 1930s, around, 1970, built, over, british, club, gliders, success, national, international. Slingsby Aviation was a British aircraft manufacturer based in Kirkbymoorside North Yorkshire England The company was founded to design and build gliders and sailplanes From the early 1930s to around 1970 it built over 50 of all British club gliders and had success at national and international level competitions 1 It then produced some powered aircraft notably the composite built Firefly trainer before becoming a producer of specialised composite materials and components Marshall Slingsby Advanced CompositesMarshall Slingsby Advanced Composites logoIndustryAerospaceFounded1931FounderFred SlingsbyHeadquartersKirkbymoorside North Yorkshire United KingdomKey peopleCarl Morse General Manager citation needed Productsgliders light aircraftOwnerMarshall of CambridgeWebsitemarshalladvancedcomposites wbr comThe business is now known as Marshall Advanced Composites and produces composite parts for ships submarines and aircraft It is a subsidiary of Marshall of Cambridge Contents 1 History 2 Aircraft 3 References 4 External linksHistory Edit Slingsby T 31 The business was founded in Scarborough by Frederick Nicholas Slingsby an RAF pilot in World War I In 1920 he bought a partnership in a woodworking and furniture factory in Queen Street Scarborough In 1930 Slingsby was one of the founders of the Scarborough Gliding Club After repairing some of the club s gliders Slingsby s business built its first aircraft a German designed RRG Falke which flew in 1931 By late 1933 Slingsby was advertising training gliders for sale In 1934 encouraged by a local landowner the business moved to Kirkbymoorside some 30 miles from Scarborough operating as Slingsby Russell amp Brown Ltd As demand for gliders built up a new factory was needed and built in Welburn just outside Kirkbymoorside This opened in July 1939 when Slingsby Sailplanes Ltd was founded 1 The best selling Slingsby glider in the pre World War II period was the Primary 2 During the war Slingsby built parts for other company s aircraft as well as their own military glider the Slingsby Hengist though the latter did not see action Towards the end of the war and afterwards the company produced large numbers of training gliders for the Air Training Corps ATC After the war Slingsby continued to make increasingly refined gliders for civilian use in clubs and competitions Their greatest success was with the Sky at the 1952 World Gliding Championships which finished in first third and fourth place The later Slingsby Skylark series was their post war best seller Slingsby began to move toward glass reinforced plastic GRP and metal construction methods but the company trading as Slingsby Aircraft Ltd since 1967 went into liquidation in July 1969 following a disastrous fire in the previous November 1 Slingsby Firefly T67M of the UK Defence Elementary Flying Training School used for training Army and Navy student pilots After this Slingsby became part of the Vickers Group in November 1969 initially as Vickers Slingsby Sailplanes Ltd then reverting to the old name of Slingsby Sailplanes Ltd and original design declined though they built versions of other aircraft both powered and unpowered Slingsby s last glider which was also their last original design was the GRP Slingsby T 65 Vega This ceased production in 1982 by which time high performance sailplane design had moved away from the UK 3 During the upheavals in the British aerospace and marine sector the company became Slingsby Engineering part of the public private holding company British Underwater Engineering UBE 4 In July 1982 Slingsby Aviation was set up by and as part of Slingsby Engineering failed verification 4 Slingsby Aviation passed from UBE to ML holdings in 1993 4 then to Cobham plc in December 1995 Slingsby s last aircraft was the T 67 Firefly a two seater military training aircraft originally a Rene Fournier design but structurally reworked by Slingsby into a wholly composite machine At this time Slingsby Aviation employed around 130 people on its 12 220 square metre 131 000 square feet site The company had its own airfield at Kirkbymoorside with a 750 metre reinforced grass runway Slingsby Aviation s SAH 2200 hovercraft has operated in such varied regions as the Arctic Circle and Africa Two are seen in the James Bond film Die Another Day On 10 August 2006 the name of the company was changed to Slingsby Advanced Composites 5 Since then the company was owned by three individuals and was no longer a part of Cobham plc Logo used in 2013 On 8 January 2010 the UK company Marshall Aerospace bought Slingsby Advanced Composites Ltd which currently trades as Marshall Slingsby Advanced Composites 6 In 2020 Marshall Slingsby Advanced Composites won the Aerospace Company of the Year in the Corporate Live Wire North England Prestige Awards 7 Aircraft Edit Slingsby Dart 17R glider Baynes Bat third scale experimental tank carrier not a Slingsby design but built by them T 21B Hengist 15 seat military glider Slingsby Capstan glider Baynes Bat experimental glider 1943 Buxton Hjordis CAMCO IIA not completed Slingsby T 1 Falcon 1 single seat sport glider 1931 Slingsby T 2 Falcon 2 Slingsby T 3 Primary Dagling Slingsby T 4 Falcon 3 Slingsby T 5 Grunau Baby Slingsby T 6 Kirby Kite Slingsby T 7 Kirby Cadet Cadet TX 1 Slingsby T 8 Kirby Tutor Cadet TX 2 Slingsby T 9 King Kite Slingsby T 12 Kirby Gull 1 Slingsby T 13 Petrel Slingsby T 14 Gull 2 Slingsby T 15 Gull 3 Slingsby T 17 military transport glider project to meet Air Ministry Specification 10 40 not built Slingsby T 18 Hengist military glider 1942 Slingsby T 19 target glider Slingsby T 20 Slingsby T 21 Sedbergh TX 1 Slingsby T 23 Kite 1A Slingsby T 24 Falcon 4 Slingsby T 25 Gull 4 Slingsby T 26 Kite 2 Slingsby T 29A B Motor Tutor Slingsby T 30 Prefect Slingsby T 31 Tandem Tutor Cadet TX 3 Slingsby T 34 Sky Slingsby T 35 Austral Slingsby T 37 Skylark 1 Slingsby T 38 Grasshopper TX 1 Slingsby T 41 Skylark 2 Slingsby T 42 Eagle Slingsby T 43 Skylark 3 Slingsby T 45 Swallow Slingsby T 46 a k a T 21C Slingsby T 49 Capstan Slingsby T 50 Skylark 4 Slingsby T 51 Dart Slingsby T 53 Slingbsy T 56 S E 5A replica Currie Wot based Slingsby T 57 Sopwith Camel replica Slingsby T 58 Rumpler C IV replica Slingsby HP 14C redesign of Schreder HP 14 Slingsby T 59 Kestrel Slingsby T 61 Falke Venture T 1 T 2 Slingsby T 65 Vega Slingsby T 66 Nipper Mk 3 Slingsby T 67 FireflyReferences Edit a b c Ellison 1971 pp 45 55 Ellison 1971 pp 254 271 Simons 1996 p 253 clarification needed a b c Assessment of Slingsby Engineering World Technology Evaluation Center June 1994 via WTEC Hyper Librarian Company registration details Company No 01688938 Companies House Marshall acquisition Awards success for Ryedale firm Ellison Norman 1971 British Gliders and Sailplanes London A amp C Black Ltd ISBN 0713611898 Slingsby Sailplanes by Martin Simons Airlife Publishing 1996 ISBN 1 85310 732 8 drawings descriptions and many photographs of all Slingsby gliders Taylor Michael J H Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation Studio Editions London 1989 ISBN 0 517 69186 8 Coates Andrew Jane s World Sailplanes amp Motor Gliders 2nd edition London Jane s 1980 ISBN 0 7106 0017 8 Simons Martin Sailplanes 1920 1945 2nd revised edition EQIP Werbung und Verlag G m b H Konigswinter 2006 ISBN 3 9806773 4 6 Simons Martin Sailplanes 1945 1965 2nd revised edition EQIP Werbung und Verlag G m b H Konigswinter 2006 ISBN 3 9807977 4 0 Simons Martin Sailplanes 1965 2000 2nd revised edition EQIP Werbung und Verlag G m b H Konigswinter 2005 ISBN 3 9808838 1 7External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Slingsby Aviation Marshall Advanced Composites website Sailplane directory Slingsby gliders History of Slingsby Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Slingsby Aviation amp oldid 1091550590, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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