Slingsby Skylark 3
Slingsby · United Kingdom · first flew 1953 · glider
The Slingsby T.43 Skylark 3 was a single-seat Open Class sailplane developed from the Skylark 2 with an extended wingspan. It won the 1960 World Gliding Championships.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Tapered and clipped tailplane mounted on top of the fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High, pylon-mounted wings with a parallel-chord inner section and a tapered outer section
- Airbrakes operating in pairs above and below the inboard wing
- Tapered and clipped tailplane mounted on top of the fuselage
A wooden sailplane with a semi-monocoque fuselage elliptical in cross-section and the cockpit just ahead of the wing pylon. It has a conventional undercarriage with a nose skid, a fixed monowheel and a small tailskid.
Specifications
- The Slingsby Skylark 3 has a length of 7.54 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 18.19 m (60 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 216 km/h (134 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It had much in common with the Skylark 2 but its span was increased to over 18 m, with a consequent increase in aspect ratio. The Skylark 3 first flew in July 1953, and 70 were built.
Variants
There were at least seven subtypes, of which the 3A, 3B and 3F were the most numerous. The 3B had the cockpit moved forward 76 mm, and the 3F added tab-assisted ailerons and a longer tailplane span.
Where you'll see it
Rolf Hossinger flew one into first place at the 1960 World Gliding Championships at Cologne. Nick Goodhart set the British declared 500 km goal record in one on 11 May 1959, flying 360 miles from Lasham to Portmoak. Most went to UK clubs and individuals, with a few exported including some to the Korean Air Force.
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