T67M260 Firefly

Slingsby Aviation · United Kingdom · first flew 1990 · light aircraft

The Slingsby T67M260 Firefly is the higher-powered variant of the military Firefly trainer, fitted with a 260 hp Lycoming AEIO-540 engine, offering better climb and aerobatic performance than the M200 and forming the basis of the US Air Force T-3A.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	7.57 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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

Spot it by:

Low-wing composite two-seater with wide side-by-side cockpit
Longer cowling than the M200 housing the larger 260 hp engine
Fixed tricycle undercarriage with wheel fairings

Virtually identical to the T67M200 in outline. The slightly longer engine cowling is the primary external differentiator. Without close inspection of cowling length or reading engine type from markings, the M200 and M260 are not reliably distinguishable at distance.

Specifications

The T67M260 Firefly has a length of 7.57 m (25 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.59 m (35 ft).
Its maximum speed is 246 km/h (153 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

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

History

Following the success of the T67M200, Slingsby developed the M260 to meet demand for a more powerful trainer capable of more demanding aerobatic training curricula. The larger AEIO-540 six-cylinder engine substantially improved climb rate and gave a higher service ceiling. The US Air Force selected the M260-derived aircraft as the T-3A Firefly for its Enhanced Flight Screener programme in the early 1990s.

Variants

The M260 is the direct parent of the US Air Force T-3A Firefly. Both types are mechanically similar but the T-3A incorporates US military-specification equipment and instrumentation. There is no substantive aerodynamic difference from the M200 beyond cowling length.

Where you'll see it

The T67M260 was exported and used by several military customers, and also sold on the civil market where its aerobatic certification makes it popular for competition and training. The US Air Force T-3A variant had a troubled service history culminating in withdrawal following fatal accidents in the mid-1990s.

Related aircraft

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