Slingsby T.4 Falcon III

Slingsby Aviation · United Kingdom · first flew 1935 · glider

The Slingsby T.4 Falcon III was a British single-seat high-performance sailplane designed in 1935 by Fred Slingsby, intended for soaring competitions and cross-country flying. It was an improved development of the Falcon series.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × none, embedded-mounted
F — Fuselage	6.74 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Unpowered sailplane — no engine
1935 British single-seat competition glider
Mid-wing design with long-span tapered wings

A graceful mid-wing single-seat sailplane with long tapered wings, a slim fuselage with an open or lightly enclosed cockpit, and a conventional tail — typical of 1930s British high-performance glider design.

Specifications

The Slingsby T.4 Falcon III has a length of 6.74 m (22 ft).
It has a wingspan of 17.69 m (58 ft).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Fred Slingsby designed the Falcon III as a competitive soaring aircraft for British pilots participating in national and international contests. It was built at Slingsby's workshop at Kirbymoorside, Yorkshire. The type helped establish Slingsby as Britain's leading glider manufacturer and was used by the newly formed British gliding clubs of the 1930s.

Variants

The Falcon I and II preceded the Falcon III; each introduced aerodynamic refinements. The Falcon III was the most capable of the series.

Where you'll see it

Used by British gliding clubs and competitive soaring pilots from 1935 onward; some aircraft remained active into the postwar period.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.