Slingsby Hengist

what is it?

The Slingsby Hengist was a British military glider designed and built by Slingsby Sailplanes Ltd. Like other British troop carrying gliders in the Second World War, it was named after military figures whose name began with H, in this case the Jute invader Hengist.

base stats

• size 3,788 kgmax take-off weight
• built 18made 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 84 years ago, in 1942.
• 🚗Wingspan of 24.4 m: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.

spec sheet

first flight

1942-01

retired

1946

status

retired

number built

18

role

troop-carrying glider

makers

Slingsby Aviation

engines

—

crew

1

length

17.2 m

wingspan

24.4 m

max take-off weight

3,788 kg

top speed

—

range

—

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