Slingsby T-67 Firefly
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| RF-6, T-67 Firefly | |
|---|---|
 Slingsby T67M-260 Firefly of the British Defence Elementary Flying Training School |
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| Type | Sports plane |
| Manufacturer | Fournier, Slingsby Aviation |
| Maiden flight | 12 March 1974 |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Number built | > 250 |
| Variants | Sportavia RS-180 |
The Slingsby T-67 Firefly, originally produced as the Fournier RF-6, is a two-seat aerobatic training aircraft, built by Slingsby Aviation in Kirkbymoorside, Yorkshire, England.[1] It got a bad reputation in the United States after three fatal crashes during USAF training operations.
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[edit] Development
The RF-6 was designed by Réné Fournier and first flew on 12 March 1974. An all-wooden construction, it featured a high aspect-ratio wing echoing his earlier motorglider designs. Fournier set up his own factory at Nitray to manufacture the design, but after only around 40 had been built, the exercise proved financially unviable, and he was forced to close down production. A four-seat version was under development by Sportavia as the RF-6C, but this demonstrated serious stabilty problems that eventually led to an almost complete redesign as the Sportavia RS-180.
In 1981, Fournier sold the development rights of the RF-6B to Slingsby, who called it the 'Firefly'. The earliest examples were virtually identical to the Fournier-built aircraft, but the design was soon revised to replace the wooden structure with one of composite material. Over 250 aircraft have been built mainly as a basic military trainer. Although operated successfully in the United Kingdom and Canada, the program would end in disaster in the United States because of fatal crashes, and problems with engine failures. The type was meant to not only replace the Cessna T-41 introductory trainer, but meet the Enhanced Flight Screening Program (EFSP) requirements. The US Air Force has no replacement for this type as it no longer provides training to non-fliers. The aircraft were eventually declared in excess of need in the early 2000s.
[edit] Slingsby Fireflies in popular culture
A white Firefly (actually one of at least three) decorated with multicoloured spots is the aircraft owned by 'Auntie Mabel' in the BBC children's series Come Outside.
[edit] Variants
- RF-6B
Main Fournier production series with Rolls-Royce-built Continental O-200 engine (43 built)
- RF-6B/120
RF-6B with Lycoming O-235 engine (1 built)
- RF-6C
Four-seat version of RF-6B built by Sportavia with Lycoming O-320 engine (4 built)
- T-67A Firefly
Slingsby-built RF-6B (9 built)
- T-67B Firefly
The T-67B was the first of the Slingsby designed aircraft, the main difference was the use of glassfibre reinforced plastic.
- T-67C Firefly
The T-67C was a variant with a 160 hp (120 kW) Lycoming engine.
- T-67M Firefly/T-3A Firefly
The T-67M is the military variant, including the T-67M260 with a more powerful 260 hp (194 kW) engine. 113 T-67M260s were delivered to the United States Air Force as the T-3A Firefly.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Military operators
The Firefly was used as a basic military training aircraft in Canada. The Canadian Fireflies entered service in 1992 replacing the CT 134 Musketeer. They were, in turn, replaced in 2006 by the German-made Grob G-120 when the contract ended. The aircraft were owned and operated by Bombardier Aerospace under contract to the Canadian Forces. Unlike the USAF experience, there were no serious operational or maintenance issues with the Fireflies in Canadian military service.
- Dutch pilot selection centre:
The Firefly is used by the Dutch air force during pilot selection at TTC in Seppe.
The Firefly is also used as a basic military trainer in the United Kingdom. The aircraft are owned and operated under contract by a civilian company on behalf of the military. In the UK it was under a scheme known as "Contractor Owned Contractor Operated" (CoCo).
The largest Firefly operator was the USAF where it was given the designation T-3A Firefly. The Firefly was selected in 1992 to replace the T-41 aircraft for the command's Enhanced Flight Screening Program, which would include aerobatic maneuvers. From 1993 to 1995, 113 aircraft were purchased and delivered to Hondo, Texas, and the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado. The Air Education and Training Command commander stood down the entire T-3A fleet in July 1997 as a result of uncommanded engine stoppages during flight and ground operations. A major factor driving the decision were the three T-3 Class A mishaps in 1995, 1996 and 1997. Three Air Force Academy cadets and three instructors were killed in T-3A crashes attributed to spin recovery procedures and engine malfunctions. The British-built planes had been purchased for $32 million, and $10 million was spent on fixes to make them airworthy after grounding. "The Air Force found the cost of getting the aircraft or any of the aircraft's components in airworthy condition for resale was prohibitive" and "In September 1999, the chief of staff of the Air Force approved termination of the T-3A EFSP, and AETC declared all T-3A aircraft excess to the command's needs. In 2000, the CSAF requested a new mission be found for the T-3A; however, a study completed in 2002 did not recommend a follow-on mission." [1] "The remaining T-3A aircraft were then stored without maintenance at the Air Force Academy and the Hondo Airport. In the 2002 to 2003 timeframe, the 53 aircraft at the Air Force Academy were disassembled, crated and trucked to Hondo."[2] On September 9, 2006, it was announced the remaining 53 (114 were originally purchased) disassembled T-3 aircraft, which had been declared in excess need for over 6 years, would be scrapped.[3].
[edit] Civil operators
- Hong Kong Government Flying Service - retired all aircraft after 1996.
- Hong Kong Aviation Club - Used to train aerobatics to pilots.
[edit] Specifications (T3A)
Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 24 ft 10 in (7.55 m)
- Wingspan: 34 ft 9 in (10.69 m)
- Height: 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m)
- Wing area: 136 ft² (12.6 m²)
- Airfoil: NACA 23015/23013 (root/tip)
- Empty weight: 1,750 lb (794 kg)
- Loaded weight: lb (kg)
- Useful load: lb (kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,550 lb (1,157 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Textron Lycoming AEIO-540-D 6-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine, 260 hp (194 kW)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 195 knots (224mph, 361 km/h)
- Maximum speed: 152 knots (175mph, 281 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 140 knots (161 mph, 259 km/h)
- Stall speed: 54 knots (62 mph, 100 km/h) (with flaps)
- Range: 407 nm (468 mi, 753 km)
- Service ceiling 19,000 ft [3] (5,790 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,380 ft/min (7 m/s)
- Wing loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
- Power/mass: hp/lb (W/kg)
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Slingsby T-67 Firefly. Delta Aviation. Retrieved on May 8, 2006.
- ^ Taylor, M J H (editor) (1999). Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 Edition. Brassey's. ISBN 1 85753 245 7.
- ^ FAS.org T3A Firefly. Retrieved on 2007-04-10.
- Air Force Scrapping Troubled Plane Retrieved Sept. 9, 2006
- AF link: Officials announce T-3A Firefly final disposition with public domain picture.
[edit] See also
- T-41 basic trainer
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