Slingsby T.9 King Kite BGA.302 glider at Welburn aerodrome.
Over the weekend of 5th and 6th June 1937 the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club ran an international air meeting at the York aerodrome at Rawcliffe and as part of the meeting they asked the Yorkshire Gliding Club to bring a glider and tug aeroplane to Rawcliffe to demonstrate aero-towing. The gliding club worked closely with Fred Slingsby's Slingsby Sailplanes company in testing and developing his early gliders; Slingsby, in turn, benefited from the use of local landowner and aviation enthusiast Major Shaw's Avro Cadet and also his airstrip at Welburn. Major Shaw's Avro Cadet G-ABVV tug aeroplane was modified for towing by Airworks Ltd at Heston and returned to him on 17th May 1937. The glider initially chosen for this demonstration two weeks later was the new Slingsby King Kite glider. The flight was due to have been made on the morning of 5th June 1937 with the tow being carried for the distance to York, the glider was attached to the tug via the tow cable and take off was attempted. Unfortunately the grass on the runway was very long, described as being waist high, and some ancient ridge and furrow across the field also was a minor issue. The King Kite glider was of a mid-wing design, rather than a high-wing that was more common of the Slingsby designs at the time. The long grass prevented this glider was getting even lift from the wings, one wing lifted before the other resulting in it cartwheeling and minor damage being sustained. A short time later a different glider was attached and was towed to York to take part in the demonstration. Major Shaw's aeroplane was then used to take up a display parachutist. Both aeroplane and glider were later towed back to Welburn with Fred Slingsby in the glider pilot seat.
Pilot - Name unknown.
Probable passenger - Name unknown.