Slingsby T31-Johnnie Johnson -Cottesmore

For me, this thread is a wonderful blast from the past. I only found out about the Johnnie Johnson connection a week ago. I am quite amazed to think that I once flew an aircraft associated with a famous WW2 ace.

In 1956, when I was a cadet NCO in the Herbert Strutt School CCF, I got my A & B gliding certificates in XE799. The following year I built a 1/8 scale model of XE799, but I never actually flew it. My design had some structural issues and the model came out far too heavy as well. With that combination of problems it was safest to keep it as a display model. What eventually became of it I do not remember. A better design was later published in Aeromodeller and is now available on Outerzone.

Somewhere among my vast collection of old photos I may still have one I took of XE799 using my Dad’s Ensign box camera in 1956. If I manage to find it I will scan it and upload a copy. At that time the aircraft was still in the old RAF training livery – silver with yellow bands – and I have not seen any photos online looking like that. They all show it in the red and silver livery with the words “AIR CADETS” in black.

Updating this posting – I have finally managed to find those pictures, but XE799 is not among them, so I am afraid I can’t keep my promise to upload it. Sorry about that.

Tony B

Funnily enough Vaughan Meers, who I believe retains a half share in XE799, also owns a Motor-Cadet, G-APIP, which has been returned to airworthy status, and another T-31, WT877. It seems there’s a tendency for devotees not just to own one, but to collect a whole squadron of the type.

My first ever flight was in RAFGSA Clevelands T-31 “223” aged five with my father at RAF Leeming. Years later he told me I was in the front seat and he had the stick forward for most of the flight ! 1,500 foot winch launch 6 minutes duration. This glider went on to become G-AYAN.
On holiday at RAF Chivenor in July 1973 my best friend Derek Boxell was a staff pilot with No.624 ATC Gliding School. In XA286 Mark 3 ,wearing Mae-Wests we had a cable break at 500 ft then soared to 1,500 ft over the Taw estuary for 10 minutes. We landed in very tall grass as the airfield was on care and maintenance only . Happy times.

Bump……..
Still looking for that picture of JEJ sat in XE799 for his first glider solo.
Somebody must know where it is?
Please?
Guy

Poor old yogi…he bounced a bit on landing and then decided pull back on the stick a little to rectify the problem…it was very quiet just before the poor old Mk3 hit the ground level from about 10-15 feet.
He might not have caused the wing change – I guess that could have been the cumulative efforts of all of us…but his was the worst Mk3 ‘arrival’ I ever saw!

XE799

That is very interesting Baz, she has had her wings changed, as I assume many had, but the serial numbers do not tally with the Fus!

She also has the tailplane off XE798, which was dismantled, I believe.

Now I know why! 😀

Whereas WT873, now BZLK is all matching.

Yes Baz, I first found the reference to JEJ on that site. I have tried e mailing, but have had no response as yet.

I’m really looking forward to flying her next year, but think she may be aerowtowed. She’s a grand old lady, and modern winches have a lot of grunt, so she may just have an easy life. After all she is nearly 60 years old.

Keep thinking about that picture! I would love to find it. I is an important piece of history for this ac.

Guy

Great news you’re flying the Brick again 😉

Just remember it does not flare very well, a higher than usual (for the period aircraft) landing speed is advisable, especially with heavy pilots…

I saw many interesting ‘arrivals’ in T31’s,but all of em were caused by the ‘skill’ of 16 YO boys :D,in fact I believe a friend of mine might have been responsible for the wing change on 799…his last ever ‘arrival’ had the wings quivering and making that strongbow noise … dedededede !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmWlOU6HGpA

not quite the right noise – but hopefully you might know what I mean 😀

But as PP has already posted,you do need tail ballast for solo pilots over (ISTR) 140 lbs.
who could forget CISTRS…

Controls
Instruments
Spoilers
Trim (actually for pilot weight/ballast requirement – as no trim tab fitted)
Release
Straps

Surprised that no photos have surfaced…I have definitely seen a photo of JEJ sitting in a Mk3,just cannot remember where – it was a long time ago 🙂
I know you will have seen this Biggles but out of interest for others – this para copied from the 644 website…

In 1957 Group Captain JE Johnson DSO DFC, The RAF‟s highest scoring fighter ace
of World War II and later Air Vice Marshall Johnson CB CBE, was appointed as
Station Commander of RAF Cottesmore. He became a frequent visitor to the 644
Gliding School making his first solo in a Kirby Cadet Mk3 XE799.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=6&sqi=2&ved=0CEcQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.644vgs.org%2F644history.pdf&ei=ihsoTd6iHsm3hAfOtJ2EAg&usg=AFQjCNH56NpjuOg3UFaDbzpznlHrrb10Vg

Have you tried contacting 644 vgs at Syerston Or maybe RAF Cottesmore ? – they may have a photo archive ?
As you know…I also first soloed on 799 at 644 GS Spitalgate in June 1969,and i still remember that wonderful ‘feel’ of the initial accelleration…the Mk3’s were so light 😀

rgds baz

Cable Strike (nearly)

No Andy i had escaped to Cornwall by then and in nearly 4,000 launches never had a powered aircraft get that close.
Mind you one morning our CFI managed to “split” the Tiger Club Turb team all over the sky when they “bimbled” through the circuit at about 500 ft.

Another day a Turb forced landed at Kenley (minutes after the entire TC balbo had gone past the airfield) the unfortunate individual was “upbraided” by a posse of VRT instructors with one Pilot Officer producing a pencil whilst demanding his name and address and complaining about the formations always coming too close.
Our downed hero only got the “Wing Commander” bit of his name out before there was a crescendo of feet coming to attention followed by some smart salutes and the dropping of a pencil.I still laugh about it to this day.
They were lucky it was not a Group Captain or higher (they used to fly with the club)
Being on a main route to Biggin i think we were quite lucky not to have any real incidents and anyway if it was low cloud/raining the chances were we staff cadets would not be winching but stuffing ourselves with NAAFI pies (or Tortoise pies as we called them) (due to the pastry being a tad firm)

After the crash of G-AKJD, they lifted the whole wing off in one piece. The pilot was then lifted out of the cockpit with a bloody nose. I can’t remember his name. I did have a newspaper cutting of the event. People where told to stop smoking! I stil remeber the Boom the fabric made as it hit the ground. For some years later the local photographer had 3 or 4 photos of the crash in his shop window. He has now past way, I thinks the Dunstable Histoy society may know was happened to his collection of photos.

Dave

Brought back nice memories of flying with the RAF Gliding Schools with the ATC during the very early 1970’s – at West Malling and Tangmere. Must say that I cherish the memory.

Pobjoy Pete – hope it wasn’t you that Xtangomike nearly flew into (or the cable thereof) during about Sept 1985 at Kenley? I was in the r/h seat and the conversation went something like:

“Peter, that doesn’t look like Biggin Hill. Are you sure about this? Where are all the aeroplanes?”

Reply:

“Yes, it must be….holy moley….what the hell is that cable up ahead…..shhh……..*****!! Hold tight!”

I’m sure he will tell the story much better than me.

G-AKJD

Don’t throw them out, somebody will rebuild her :rolleyes:

I believe the pilot walked away at least.

Thanks for the info. I wonder what happened to G-AKEY in the Bahamas?

It would be interesting to know.

Guy

G-26-1 was G-AKEY. I still have a few small bits of wood and fabric that i picked up a child from G-AKJD.

Dave

T29’s

OK I stand corrected..

G-AKEY

G-AKJD Lasham based, crashed at Dunstable by touching wing on the hill.

One flew marked as G-26-1, probably by Slingsby’s, but not sure which one.

Also
G-AXMB, a single seater Tutor, started with two engines, then has one at the front.
Guy

Only two T29’s where built. One went to the Bahamas, The other one i saw crash at Dunstable 21/6/1964.

Dave

Ah I understand. I’m sure it is a fun machine though. I reckon it would be even more fun than a Piper Cub or the like for a little potter on a Summer evening.

T31M

Mike,

The front cockpit is gone! It is a bigger conversion than you think.
In front of the pilot is a petrol tank, and a very substantial firewall.

The conversion drawings were done by Slingsby themselves for the first conversion G-AYAN was done by a Slingsby employee. Also they had built about four T29’s to satisfy an MOD Carrier wake trials contract. But it came to nothing. Partly because the original I think 600cc engine was so underpowered, that the T29 was very marginal to fly.

It has taken a relatively modern powerplant like the VW to transform it into a really good aeroplane.
Guy

I notice that the front cockpit is covered over was that a neccessity to keep within the CofG and weight and balance constraints due to the engine?

Slingsby T31M

It has an 1800cc VW engine, with a very healthy rate of climb. 2hrs + duration. 10 litres an hour.

Generally not a 2hr duration for the pilot, however, as after an hour one feels a bit frazzled and uncomfortable.

But an absolute treat to fly.

Guy

Thanks Mike,

I cannot take credit for the conversion, I bought it done and I agree it is a lovely job..It was only done in 2006 by Ivan Manley near Selsey.

Only the ‘Biggles’ paintwork is my handywork. She was very ‘Civvy’ when I bought her, with a white prop and red wings etc.
Glad you like it, I’m in love already. I have got so into T31’s I set out to get a glider too.

Hence XE799, and I hope she will be turned out to a similar standard with all the proper Stencils etc. Having said that, most are original anyway.

This thread is drifting isn’t it!

Just to prove she flies….

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22405356@N05/3941672979/in/set-72157603623372615/

Guy

Bloody marvellous what you can do with Photoshop isn’t it?:D
Seriously though, what engine has it got? Looks like one of the many VW derivatives.
Just goes to show I’m used to a later generation of gliders. I remember getting 5 minute circuits out of a K4 (two up) off an 1100ft winch launch