To add more confusion to the T21 orientated thread drift, VX275 the RAFM’s T21 was built as a civilian T21 not as a Sedburgh TX1, being presented to the Air Cadets a year before the first Sedburghs arrived. However she had a number of rebuilds during her 33 year career so is probably more Sedburgh now. Although her mainwheel box was smaller than other Sedburghs and you had to remember not to lift the tail as high as the others so as to prevent the skid digging in.
Indeed, looking through the manufacturer’s mod-list, it would appear that Mod 12 (wheel ground clearance) had initially not been carried out, but was probably only done at a later date (if at all). Incidently, mods 1 (triangular access panel), 10 (liftings holes aft fuselage), 11 (modified elevator trailing edges), 14 (markings), 15 (T&S), 36 (sprung tail skid), 40 (picketing rings), 41 (ballast weight) at least seem to have been carried out afterwards, and probably many more minor mods as well when/if components were changed during her lifetime (wings, etc). No two T21’s are alike, even not service aircraft… And the mod-list is a long one!
Interestingly, the official RAF aircraft manuals refer to the aircraft as the ‘Sedbergh TX Mk. 1 light glider’, not Sedburgh as often seen. It was named after the school at Sedbergh I seem to remember.
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