Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford
Reid and Sigrist · United Kingdom · first flew 1945 · light aircraft
The Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford was a British twin-engine trainer and communications aircraft that first flew in 1945. It featured an unusual three-seat layout with the instructor seated centrally behind two side-by-side students.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.77 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-engine British trainer with side-by-side seating
- Unconventional three-seat layout
- Named after Desford airfield in Leicestershire
Low-wing twin with a wide cabin section and distinctive three-abreast seating arrangement visible through side windows. Twin propellers and conventional tail distinguish it from single-engine contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford has a length of 7.77 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.36 m (34 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 291 km/h (181 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Reid and Sigrist was a British instrument manufacturer that also produced a small number of aircraft during and after WWII. The Desford was their most refined design, intended as an advanced trainer. It arrived too late to see wartime service and the postwar market for such types was limited. One example was later converted to the Bobsleigh research aircraft configuration.
Variants
The sole R.S.3 was later modified significantly to become the R.S.4 Bobsleigh, featuring a prone-pilot position for ejection-seat research work in the early 1950s.
Where you'll see it
Operated in the United Kingdom on a very limited basis; not adopted by the RAF. The modified Bobsleigh variant conducted research flights for Martin-Baker ejection seat development.
Related aircraft
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