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Slingsby Grasshopper

first flew 1952· primary glider

🪂 glider no engine
10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
  1. 1. Slingsby T.38: Nimbus227· Public domain
  2. 2. Slingsby T.38 Grasshopper TX.1 ‘WZ828’ (BGA4421) (35662991046): Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK· CC BY-SA 2.0
  3. 3. RAF Manston Chipmunk and Grasshopper: Ad Meskens You are free to use this picture for any purpose as long as you credit its author, Ad Meskens . Example: © Ad Meskens / Wikimedia Commons If you use this work outside of the Wikimedia proje· CC BY-SA 4.0
  4. 4. Slingsby Grasshopper TX.1 -WZ816- (50204918943): Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK· CC BY-SA 2.0
  5. 5. Slingsby Grasshopper TX.1 ‘XK789’ (23621539291): Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK· CC BY-SA 2.0
  6. 6. Slingsby T.38 Grasshopper TX.1 at Gliding Heritage Centre (34470009885): Mike Burdett from CROMER, UK· CC BY-SA 2.0
  7. 7. Slingsby T.38 Grasshopper TX.1 ‘772’ (probably WZ767) (39663378262): Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK· CC BY-SA 2.0
  8. 8. Slingsby T.38 Grasshopper TX.1 ‘WZ828’ (BGA4421) (34861089114): Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK· CC BY-SA 2.0
  9. 9. Slingsby T.38 Grasshopper TX.1 ‘XA228’ (39831064122): Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK· CC BY-SA 2.0
  10. 10. Slingsby T.38 Grasshopper TX.1 ‘XA231’ (52405057661): Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK· CC BY-SA 2.0
Read about it on Wikipedia ↗
Slingsby Grasshopper, photo 1 of 10
1/10 Nimbus227· Public domain

what is it?

The Slingsby T.38 Grasshopper is a British primary training glider built by Slingsby Sailplanes for the Royal Air Force.

base stats

  • size 250 kgmax take-off weight
  • built 115made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

  • First flew 74 years ago, in 1952.
  • Wingspan of 11.9 m: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.

no engine: No engine: it glides on rising air.

spec sheet

first flight
1952
introduced
1952
number built
115
role
primary glider
engines
none (glider)
crew
1
length
6.3 m
wingspan
11.9 m
height
2.4 m
max take-off weight
250 kg
top speed
—
range
—

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q7540711, Wikipedia: Slingsby Grasshopper (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.

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