M.Hardy. Gliders & Sailplanes of the world

Dagling Primary

  Primary training gliders evolved as very simple, even crude, airframes sufficiently basic and strong to withstand the rough handling of inexperienced beginner pilots while having just enough flying ability (and vices) to give the trainee pilot the feel of the controls and enable him to grasp the basic skill of controlling an aircraft in flight. The best known British prewar example in this category was the Dagling, a primary glider the prototype of which was built in 1930 by R. F. Dagnall, founder of the R.F.D. Co Ltd, for the London Gliding Club using plans acquired through America; this was a version of the German Zogling primary, and the combination of 'Dagnall' and 'Zogling' resulted in the name Dagling, which was often later applied to all primary gliders regardless of their true identity. The Dagling had a low aspect ratio constant chord wing from which a rudimentary wooden A-frame fuselage framework was suspended housing the pilot, the tail unit being carried on four steel tubular members - these had been wooden members in the Zogling, but were changed to metal to give a stronger support for the tail. Simple wood and fabric construction was employed, with wire-braced wings and only a main skid on the bottom fuselage member for the landing gear. Some Daglings had a nacelle fitted to give the pilot some protection from the elements, while others had rounded instead of squared-off wing tips, and at least one had a nacelle with two seats in it. Although pretty basic, the Dagling was successful enough to go into production and the R.F.D. Co built at least 27 but in January 1932 announced the cessation of its glider making activities to concentrate on its Air Ministry contracts, and the name of R.F.D. was henceforth to become far better known for liferafts, dinghies, parachutes, air and sea rescue equipment and related products. Dagling production was taken up by several other British firms, the foremost of which was Slingsby, which started building the type at Scarborough in 1933 as the T3 Primary, and eventually built 67; Slingsby's 1933 price for a complete Dagling was a mere £45, and this had risen to £57 15s (£57.75) by 1939, or £66 with a nacelle. For amateur constructors, the British Gliding Association offered a complete set of Dagling plans in 1933 for only £2. Dagling production was also undertaken by Hawkridge Aircraft Ltd, who built five after the war, by Dart Aircraft Ltd, by the Dunstable Sailplane Co, who built one, and Abbott Baynes Sailplanes Ltd; the type's simplicity also enabled it to be built by students at technical schools and colleges such as the College of Aeronautical Engineering, who built one at Redhill. Several other nations produced single-seater primary types in the 1930s basically similar in appearance and performance to the Dagling, such as the Italian Allievo Pavullo, also available with or without a nacelle, the US-designed Denver Primary and the German Schulgleiter SG 38 (the 108-14) and the Grunau Ei.


Data: Slingsby T3 Primary
Span: 33 ft 0 in
Span: 33 ft 11 1/2 in (with rounded tips)
Length: 17 ft 10 1/2 in
Wing area: 163 sqft
Aspect ratio: 6.6
Tare weight: 180 lb
All-up weight: 380 lb
Stalling speed: 25 mph