Slingsby T.31 Tandem Tutor
Slingsby Aviation · United Kingdom · first flew 1948 · glider
The Slingsby T.31 Tandem Tutor is a British two-seat primary training glider of the late 1940s, characterised by its fabric-covered wooden structure and open tandem cockpits. It served as a standard ATC cadet glider for over two decades.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.62 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unpowered sailplane — no engine
- Tandem open-cockpit two-seater with high straight wing, typical 1940s British glider
- Fabric-covered wooden construction with external wire bracing
Identified by the open tandem cockpits, high straight wing with strut and wire bracing, and the fabric-covered wooden fuselage. The absence of any enclosed canopy makes it instantly recognisable against later designs.
Specifications
- The Slingsby T.31 Tandem Tutor has a length of 7.62 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.64 m (51 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 130 km/h (81 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 (tandem).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed and built by Slingsby Sailplanes and first flown in 1948, the T.31 was adopted by the Air Training Corps as its primary dual-instruction glider under the name Cadet TX Mk 2. Hundreds were built and many served until the late 1970s.
Variants
The standard T.31B introduced minor structural reinforcements; most production aircraft are externally identical. A few were fitted with a simple nose skid in place of the wheel for grass operations.
Where you'll see it
The T.31 formed the backbone of ATC gliding training from the early 1950s; survivors are cherished by vintage gliding enthusiasts and BGA-affiliated historical groups, with several remaining airworthy in the UK.
Related aircraft
- Slingsby T.20
- Slingsby Hengist
- Slingsby T.4 Falcon III
- Slingsby Dart 17
- Aero Commander 500
- Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
- Beecraft Wee Bee
- Brochet MB.50 Pipistrelle
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.