The Slingsby Type 61 Falke was a licence-built version of the Scheibe SF 25B

Motor glider A motor glider is a fixed-wing aircraft that can be flown with or without engine power. The FAI Gliding Commission Sporting Code definition is: a fixed-wing aerodyne equipped with a means of propulsion (MoP), capable of sustained soaring flight ...

built by

Slingsby Sailplanes 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 c ...

. It entered service with the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

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 The Grob G109 is a light aircraft developed by Grob Aircraft AG of Mindelheim Mattsies in Germany. It first flew (G109 prototype and then production G109A form) in 1980. The G109B followed in 1984. It is a two-seat self-launching motor glider ...

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 The Limbach L1700 is a series of type certified German aircraft engines, designed and produced by Limbach Flugmotoren of Königswinter for use in light aircraft and motorgliders.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Le ...

engine. ;Venture T1 :RAF designation for one T61A bought for evaluation in 1971. ;Venture T2 :RAF designation for production T61E and later T61F aircraft.

Former Operators

; *

RAF VGS 612 ZA652, ZA653, ZA654 RAF VGS 616 ZA625, ZA630 RAF VGS 642 XZ550 August 1978, XZ563 October 1978, ZA630 March 1980, ZA657, ZA659 replaced XZ653 RAF VGS 644 ZA634 29th March 1980.

Specifications (T61A)

References

* {{slingsby aircraft 1970s British civil utility aircraft 1970s British military trainer aircraft Motor gliders Falke Single-engined tractor aircraft Low-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1971

Development

Variants

Former Operators

Specifications (T61A)

See also

References