Slingsby T.31B Cadet TX.Mk.3 - XN246

The Cadet Mk.3 is a two seat glider built by Slingsby Sailplanes at Kirbymoorside in Yorkshire as a basic training glider for the Air Training Corps.

The Cadet Mk.3 formed the main equipment of the Air Training Corps gliding schools from the early 1950s until 1986 when the last were withdrawn from service having been replaced by modern glass-fibre aircraft. During this period many thousands of 16 year old cadets made their first solo flights and obtained their British Gliding Association A and B Certificates in this type of aircraft. Although it could be aerotowed the normal method for the Cadet Mk.3 was a winch launch, using this procedure about 1000 ft altitude could be obtained resulting in a circuit lasting from 3 to 15 minutes.

XN246 served with 87 Gliding School at Christchurch (renumbered 622 Gliding School in 1955) and then from 1960 with 617 Gliding School first at RAF Hendon, from 1968 to 1970 at RAF Bovingdon and then at RAF Manston. It was withdrawn from service in 1986 and purchased by Mr Terry MacRae who has restored it to its original colour scheme and loaned it to the museum.

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