Slingsby Grasshopper
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name=T.38 Grasshopper
|image=File:Slingsby T.38 Grasshopper TX.1 ‘WZ828’ (BGA4421) (35662991046).jpg
|caption=
|type=Primary glider
|manufacturer=Slingsby Sailplanes Limited
|designer=
|first_flight=1952
|introduction=1952
|retired=
|status=
|primary_user=Royal Air Force
|more_users=
|produced=
|number_built=115
|variants=
}}
The Slingsby T.38 Grasshopper is a British primary training glider built by Slingsby Sailplanes for the Royal Air Force.Hardy 1982, p. 115.
Development
The design is based on the pre-World War II German SG 38 Schulgleiter, modified to use the wing design of the Slingsby T.7 Kirby Cadet glider. The design was cheap to manufacture and was designed to be stored dismantled. The type was used by Air Training Corps Squadrons between 1952 and the late 1980s.
The RAF designated the glider the Grasshopper TX.1, and the first order was for 65 aircraft, which were delivered in 1952 and 1953. It was later followed by two further orders for an additional 50 aircraft; the final delivery was made in 1963.
Launch is achieved through the use of a V-shaped bungee or elastic rope pulled by a team of helpers. The glider can also be mounted on a pivoting tripod pointed into wind for the demonstration of controls.
The Grasshopper is virtually identical to the EoN Eton.
Operators
;{{UK}}
Specifications (Grasshopper TX.1)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=British Gliders and Sailplanes 1922-1970{{cite book|last=Ellison|first=Norman|title=British Gliders and Sailplanes 1922-1970|publisher=Adam & Charles Black|location=London|date=1971|edition=1st|pages=205|isbn=0 7136 1189 8}}
|prime units?=imp
|crew=1
|length m=6.3
|span m=11.88
|height m=2.43
|wing area sqm=16.16
|aspect ratio=8.73
|airfoil=Göttingen 426
|empty weight kg=132.9
|gross weight kg=249.5
|stall speed kmh=48
|never exceed speed kmh=129
|wing loading kg/m2=15.13
}}
See also
{{Aircontent
|see also=
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
}}
References
{{commons category|Slingsby Grasshopper}}
=Notes=
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin}}
- Hardy, Michael. Gliders & Sailplanes of the World. London: Ian Allan, 1982. {{ISBN|0-7110-1152-4}}.
{{refend}}
{{Slingsby aircraft}}
Category:1950s British military trainer aircraft