Slingsby Type 21b Sedbergh TX Mk1

Sedbergh VX 275, a 'special bulld' version which apparently had a shorter than usual position of the wheel, is stored at the MU at Stafford pending disposal.

VX275 was a presentation aircraft and was given the name 'Venture', this is recorded on the cockpit bulkhead along with the name of the lady that organised the gifting of the aircraft to the Air Cadets, a Mrs F D Hepple.
VX275 final flying days were with 612 VGS at RAF Benson where she was more often than not just referred to as Mrs Hepple.

AlastairMellor1 wrote:

VX275 was a presentation aircraft and was given the name 'Venture', this is recorded on the cockpit bulkhead along with the name of the lady that organised the gifting of the aircraft to the Air Cadets, a Mrs F D Hepple.
VX275 final flying days were with 612 VGS at RAF Benson where she was more often than not just referred to as Mrs Hepple.

I managed to crash '275 at 613 GS Halton on 17 May 1967. I was flying a cadet on air experience and cocked it up!
The aircraft was originally assessed as Cat 5, but as it was a presentation aircraft, was taken back to Slingsby and re-furbished and I flew it again at Halton on 20 May 1968.
Last time I flew it was at White Waltham on 13 Jul 1976; 612 was given its own number shortly after this and the unit moved to Benson along with '275. The winch launched gliders were replaced with Ventures some time time later.

Re the above; I think 612 converted from Sedberghs and Mk3s to Ventures in about 1980 or 81.

612 VGS converted to Venture Mk 2 in September 1980.
I qualified as a G1 pilot during the second weekend in August that year and took my first passenger up in VX275.
IIRC it was a 25 minute flight in a stubble fire smoke plume which I cut short when a burning clump of straw just missed the aircraft!

Approved as G1 (actually P2 in those days) on 30 Jul '66 also in VX275 and my instructor told me to stay in the aircraft, returning shortly with my first passenger.
Got a vague recollection of your name; were you present at a fatal crash at Cranfield in a T67?

Your recollection is correct. I was at Cranfield on that day in my role as Hangar Rat for Rod Small's Dove G-ARDE which used to do the airshow circuit.

Shouldn't really say 'cos this thread is really for Sedberghs but I flew with an AEG party several times after Ventures were introduced and sometimes chatted with you; one flight was John H and another was Trevor H.
In the early '90s (Vigilants) was appointed as WGLO for Herts & Bucks Wing and 612.

Fascinating stuff!