Slingsby Falke

{{Short description|British / German motor glider, 1971}}  {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Use British English|date=December 2016}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = T.61 Falke | logo = | logo_size = | image = Slingsby T.61F Venture T2 2.jpg | alt = | caption = T61F Venture T2 | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Basic Trainer | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United Kingdom | manufacturer = [[Slingsby Aviation|Slingsby Sailplanes]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = [[Royal Air Force]] | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 76 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 1971 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = [[Scheibe SF 25B]] | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Slingsby Type 61 Falke''' was a licence-built version of the [[Scheibe SF 25B]] [[Motor glider]] built by [[Slingsby Aviation|Slingsby Sailplanes]]. It entered service with the [[Royal Air Force]] for air cadet training as the '''Slingsby Venture'''.

==Development== In 1970 Slingsby acquired a licence to build the SF 25B as the '''Type 61A Falke''', a side-by-side two-seat dual training monoplane. This first variant was powered by a 45 hp [[Starck Stamo MS1500]] engine and first flew at Wombleton on 8 February 1971. During May 1971 one aircraft was evaluated by the Royal Air Force as the '''Venture T1''' and an order for 15 aircraft followed. The aircraft were to be operated by [[Volunteer Gliding School]]s for basic air cadet training. Following replacement by the [[Grob G 109|Grob Vigilant T1]] they were all sold in 1990.

==Variants== ;T61A :Production variant fitted with a [[Starck Stamo MS1500]] engine with manual engine start, 26 built. ;T61B :As T61A but fitted with a [[Franklin 2A-120-A]] engine, one built. ;T61C :Production variant fitted with a Starck Stamo MS1500 engine with an electric engine start, 8 built. ;T61D :One T61A refitted with [[Rollason R.S.1]] engine in 1972. ;T61E :Production aircraft for the RAF as '''Venture T2''', 15 built later modified to T61F. ;T61F :Production aircraft for the RAF with electric engine starter as the '''Venture T2''', 15 T61Es modified and 25 built. ;T61G :One aircraft powered by a [[Limbach SL1700]] engine. ;Venture T1 :RAF designation for one T61A bought for evaluation in 1971. ;Venture T2 :RAF designation for production T61E and later T61F aircraft.

==Former operators== ;{{UK}} *[[Royal Air Force]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/visiting/lookingback/looking-back-at-2016/aircraft-in-the-spotlight/raf-slingsby-venture|title=Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises – RAF Slingsby Venture }}</ref>

RAF VGS 612 ZA652, ZA653, ZA654 RAF VGS 616 ZA625, ZA630

RAF VGS 642 XZ550 August 1978, XZ563 October 1978, ZA630 March 1980, ZA657, ZA659 replaced XZ653

RAF VGS 644 ZA634 29 March 1980.

==Specifications (T61A)== [[File:T61-G-BUFR.jpg|thumb|T61F Venture T2]] {{Aircraft specs |prime units? = imp |crew=Two |length m=7.6 |length ft=24 |length in=11 |span m=15.33 |span ft=50 |span in=4 |wing area sqm=17.47 |wing area sqft=188 |aspect ratio=13.4 |empty weight kg=335 |empty weight lb=740 |gross weight kg=530 |gross weight lb=1,170 |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Starck Stamo MS1500 |eng1 hp=45 |glide ratio=22 |sink rate ms=1.00 |sink rate ftmin=200 }}

==See also== {{aircontent  |see also= *[[Air Training Corps]] |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= *[[List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force]] }}

==References== {{Commons category|Slingsby T.61 Falke}} {{reflist}} *{{cite book |last= Jackson|first= A.J.|title= British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3|year= 1974|publisher= Putnam|location= London|isbn=0-370-10014-X }}  {{slingsby aircraft}}

[[Category:1970s British civil utility aircraft]] [[Category:1970s British military trainer aircraft]] [[Category:Motor gliders]] [[Category:Slingsby aircraft|Falke]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:Low-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1971]] [[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]