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.