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The Vickers-Slingsby T-61B & E Falke (1977)[Air Training Corps codename - "Venture"] |
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Models built from Cliffs Plan
  
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For many years now most gliding clubs have had at least one two-seat motor glider for training purposes. Use of such an aircraft gives clubs the opportunity of speeding up training, dispensing with winch and retrieve vehicles and of cutting down on ground handling. It also makes possible the continuation of training and indeed of flying in all weather conditions which would otherwise preclude the launching of motorless sailplanes.
Air Training Corps cadets used to use the two-seat T.21 Sedburgh and T.31 Tandem Tutor for the limited training they received, however, there was a move to equip them with motor gliders and Vickers-Slingsby developed the T.61E especifically for this purpose as their first motor-glider. The T.61 was a German design originally built by Scheibe as the successful SF-25B Falke powered by a Rollason-Volkswagen 1,600 cc 35.8kw (48 hp) engine. It was built under licence by Slingsby from 1970, and a total of 35 were completed. The T.6lE is an improved version featuring a glassfibre main spar encased in plywood which simultaneously reduced the empty weight and increased the maximum take-off weight. Many other glassfibre components were used in the aircraft, including a new seat designed to improve comfort and to reduce the hazard of loose articles slipping under the seat into the control area.
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Cliff Charlesworth says "It makes a very nice model which has a fantastic gliding performance,unlike it's full size brother. Many examples have been made, most with I.C. engine power but some have also been made for electric." |
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Click the following Logos for more full size examples :-
