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The Kirby Cadet, which first flew in
1936, was designed as an intermediate performance glider.
Early examples had a rubber shock absorbed skid for takeoff
and landing, but later versions had a modified nose, a less
tall rudder and a fixed main wheel. It has no approach
control aids.
During World War II, the type was
adopted by the Royal Air Force for its air cadet training
program, eventually acquiting 376, known as the Kirby Cadet
T.X. Mk. 1. Total production by Slingsby and subcontractors
amounted to around 430, with some kits being supplied in
addition. Plans were made available for license
building.
Alex Dawydoff in the U.S. acquired
plans and built the slightly modified UT-1, still with
mainskid and no wheel, first flying in 1943. The sole UT-1
now belongs to the National Soaring Museum.
The type was developed into the T. 8
Kirby Tutor (RAF Kirby Cadet T.X. Mk. 2) by the addition of
a 13.24 m./ 43.4 ft. tapered wing. This in turn evolved into
the T.31 Tandem Tutor (RAF Kirby Cadet T.X. Mk. 3) two-place
trainer. A post war surplus of the T. 7s resulted in
Slingsby building the primary T. 38 Grasshopper with surplus
T. 7 wings and tailplanes married to a new primary open
fuselage.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Special thanks to the Soaring
Society of America (SSA), for permission to use text and
specs from their publications. More information on vintage
soaring craft may be found at their pages and in their
publications and those of the
Vintage Sailplane
Association.
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Slingsby Tutor designed by Lee
Renaud and prototyped at his request by Gordon
Pearson.
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click
for larger image
Click
here to visit the RC Groups build log
Gordon poses with his
prototype Slingsby Tutor, Cadet TX.MK.2 in A.T.C.
Service (Air Training Corps)
We've deviated a little from our US classic and
vintage sailplane mission but I thought it was
important enough that this is the last sailplane
designed and drafted by Lee Renauld. Gordon and Lee
collaborated on this scale project in Lee's last
years - Gordon gathering the scale details from
here in the US and from his correspondence with the
Borders (Millfield) Gliding Club dating to 1982
when the effort began. In the meantime, his friend
Lee layed out the plans in preparation for
construction of the prototype.
I will not give away all of the details of this
collaboration between friends, but the design
incorporates the same ribs and almost identical
wing planform as the Sagitta XC which Lee had
designed earlier in that same year. Gordon has
offered me the article written on this last effort
of Lee and a brief history of his interest in this
particular model. I hope to find a publisher for
the article.
We will offer Gordon's documentation package for
those who wish to have it. It will include as well
his letters of correspondence and three views, two
blueprints from Slingsby, photographs provided of
the aircraft from the UK and hand made dimensioned
drawings of the entire airframe and structure for
scaling with station spacing and cross sections.
Several varations as described to the left may
be built to Lee's plans and the 3 view supplied
with the documentation package and we will include
adequate laser cut ribs for the modeler who wishes
to choose one of these options. The original plans
will only be duplicated as I received them save for
compounding them into page layouts suitable for
printing.
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SPECS
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Span:
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131" (3.2m)
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Length:
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62-5/8 (159cm)
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Aspect:
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13.2
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Area:
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1570
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All up weight:
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10 lbs.
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Wing loading:
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14.5 oz./ft.2
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Airfoil:
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Eppler 205
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Scale:
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1:4 scale
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No. Servos Req'd:
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4-5
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FUNCTIONS:
Rudder, Elevator,
Ailerons, Spoilers, Tow Release.
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PARTIAL
KIT CONTENTS
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All balsa and plywood wing ribs,
Plywood Fuselage side doublers,
Fuselage bulkheads,
Light ply nose stringers,
Sheet balsa tails,
Canopy bows,
Vac-formed plastic canopy
Plans, 2 sheets 36" x 68", rolled.
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HARDWARE
PACK CONTENTS
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Lightweight wheel/tire 2.5" dia,
Steel wire axle, 5/32",
Dura collars 5/32",
3-48 x 3/4" stab mounting bolts,
Hinges, nylon large,12,
Pushrods (tails) 2 48" length,
3/8" 7075 T6 aluminum wing rod,
13/32" OD brass joiner sleeve,
1/8" x 6" spring steel incidence pin,
5/32" OD brass incidence sleeve.
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REQUIRED
TO COMPLETE MODEL
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Wing and fuse 1/16" balsa sheet,
Spruce spars,
Balsa shear webs
Cable pushrods (dive brakes) 2,
Adhesive epoxy and CA cements,
Covering, fabric or film,
Servos, wires, battery and receiver.
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