It was good to see two Slingsby Kites at Saturday’s Evening Air Show at Old Warden, but the commentator raised a query in my mind and I would like some info please.
I know that about 35 Kites were built and that they were heavily influenced by an earlier German design (but I can’t remember which one). I know that the surviving Kites were absorbed by the RAF and many went to Ringway to train Army glider pilots. Ringway became over full with units and the Kites were sent to Haddenham where the training of pilots in the Glider Pilot’s Regiment was undertaken until the end of the war. I also know that as the Germans were expected to use gliders in their projected invasion and at least one Kite was used to test the effectiveness of radar in detecting gliders. So far so good.
But on Saturday the commentator said that the radar test Kite also had the metal in its control runs replaced by wood and this was the aeroplane in the show. Is this true? It’s the first I’ve heard of it and it seems a little improbable.
Any answers?
Regards
By: G-ASEA - 1st September 2014 at 17:39
If you look on Facebook wall Kirby Kite 1, on the photos there is one showing the pushrods on the wing of BGA 400.
Dave
By: Orion - 1st September 2014 at 09:34
Thank you for that, most grateful
Regards
By: G-ASEA - 31st August 2014 at 20:59
25 Kirby Kite 1’s where built. Of which 8 survive, one with out wings. The design used many Gruanau Baby 2 fittings. About 15 Kites where used at Ringway then to Haddenham. One Kite was built for the RDF(Radar) trials at Christchurch in 1940. This had cable runs replaced by oak push pull rods.The Camouflaged Kite BGA 400 at Old Warden yesterday has only the wings of the radar Kite. The rest of this Kite was lost during the war. BGA 400 was restored by my father and myself in the late 1980’s early 90’s. I was there yesterday to help rig and derig the Kite. Which is now owned by a group at Haddenham. I have the prototype Kite and the original BGA 310.
Dave. Kirby Kite owners club.
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August 31, 2014 at 7:55 pm