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Slingsby T34 Sky with special thanks for help to Roger Brown / John Watkins / Doug Garland & Vintage Glider Club
The Sky was of all timber construction. The thin box wing had an aspect ratio of 18.7, high for the times. DFS style air-brakes were incorporated into the wing, which in itself had been considerably re-inforced form the earlier Kite wing.The fuselage nose and cockpit area was double planked and had a strong resemblence to its predecessors, the Gull IV and Kite II. The glider was provided with a blown plexiglass canopy The Sky became the first really succesful non-German glider in competitions.The two prototypes were placed first and second in the 1951 English championships, whilst in the 1952 world championships in Madrid, Philip Wills flew his Sky into first place. A further 4 Sky were represented in the top ten places at this event. At the 1956 world championships in Weltmeisterschaften in St. Yan, six Sky gliders were successful. Only 16 of these gliders were built.
BGA1053 (click to enlarge)
A Production List as well as other pictures of the Sky can be found HERE
BGA 685 Click the picture for 35 photos BGA 686 Click the picture for 25 photos
BGA 694 Click the picture for 8 photos BGA 698 - affectionately known as 'Gertie'- with a different canopy and tow release Click the picture for 15 photos BGA 4670 XA876. D/d 18/8/52. Flown by Lorne Welsh in 1952 World Championships. ETPS, Farnborough, Boscombe Down. 2 GC RAF Spittlegate. IGC RAF Syerston, Four Counties GC RAFGSA Syerston. Sold as BGA4670. First flight after restoration 8/5/99. Presently based at Booker. The Colour is quoted as Volvo Red. The glider has funny little 'ears' just forward ogf the cockpit, to do with the variometer Click the picture for 114 photos EC-RAT  |
Developed from the experiences with the Gull IV, Slingsby of Kirbymoorside produced by 1951 their high performance Sky glider to take on such gliders as the Weihe. 
