science

Slingsby Kestrel

Slingsby Kestrel is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Slingsby Kestrel rather than just read about it. In short: The Slingsby T.59 Kestrel is a British Open class glider which first flew in August 1970. Of fibreglass construction, it features camber-changing flaps, airbrakes, and a retractable main wheel.

Key takeaways

Slingsby Kestrel belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Slingsby Kestrel to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Slingsby Kestrel from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Slingsby T.59 Kestrel is a British Open class glider which first flew in August 1970. Of fibreglass construction, it features camber-changing flaps, airbrakes, and a retractable main wheel. Originally a licensed-built version of the Glasflügel 401, the Kestrel was produced in several variants culminating in the T.59H of 22 metres (72.2 ft) wing span. The type was successful when used in gliding competitions and was the first glider to complete a 1,000 km (621 mi) pre-declared task.

Notable competition use 1970 World Championships - Fourth place, pilot; George Burton. 1972 British National Championships - First place, pilot; John Delafield. 1972 World Championships - Eight Kestrels entered, highest competitors placed fourth (Nick Goodhart) and sixth (Burton). 1975 British National Championships - First place, pilot; George Lee. Eight of the top ten places were taken by Kestrel pilots.

World record use The 1,000 km out and return pre-declared task world distance record was broken in September 1972 by New Zealander, Dick Georgeson. Covering a distance of 1,001.94 km (622.58 mi) in lee wave this was the first time that this pre-declared distance task had been completed.

Variants T.59 Kestrel 17 Initial licensed production version of Glasflügel 401, first flown in 1970, five built. T.59B Experimental 19 m (62.3 ft) wing span version, one built. T.59C Kestrel 19 Prototype with carbon fibre wing spar, first flown in May 1971. One aircraft built. T.59D/E Kestrel 19 Production Kestrel 19, T.59D was a designation given by the British Gliding Association, T.59E was the designation given to the same type by the Civil Aviation Authority. Over 90 aircraft built. T.59G Kestrel 22 Wing root extensions fitted to increase span to 22 m (72.2 ft), tailplane area enlarged by 25%. One aircraft modified in Australia. T.59H Kestrel 22 Re-designed four-piece wing. Two aircraft built.

Aircraft on display US Southwest Soaring Museum

Specifications (T.59D Kestrel 19) Data from Jane's.General characteristics Crew: One Length: 21 ft 7.75 in (6.6 m) Wingspan: 62 ft 4 in (19.0 m) Wing area: 138.5 sq ft (12.87 m2) Aspect ratio: 28 Empty weight: 728 lb (330 kg) Gross weight: 1,041 lb (472 kg) Performance

Maximum speed: 155 mph (250 km/h, 135 kn) Maximum glide ratio: 44:1 Rate of sink: 102 ft/min (0.52 m/s)

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Slingsby Kestrel

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Slingsby Kestrel claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Slingsby Kestrel before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Slingsby Kestrel ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Slingsby Kestrel

In research: Slingsby Kestrel appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Slingsby Kestrel in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Slingsby Kestrel is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1970s British sailplanes, Aircraft first flown in 1970, Glider aircraft, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Slingsby Kestrel outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Slingsby Kestrel in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Slingsby Kestrel means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Slingsby Kestrel out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Slingsby Kestrel in simple terms?

The Slingsby T.59 Kestrel is a British Open class glider which first flew in August 1970. Of fibreglass construction, it features camber-changing flaps, airbrakes, and a retractable main wheel.

Why does Slingsby Kestrel matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Slingsby Kestrel?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Slingsby Kestrel.