Fire at Slingsby Aviation Ltd factory, Kirkbymoorside.
During the early morning of Monday, 18th November 1968 a fire at the factory of Slingsby Aircraft Ltd. at Ings Lane, Kirkbymoorside saw the destruction of the production site. It resulted in the loss of a
number of powered aircraft, gliders and part-built airframes with upward of forty aircraft in total being destroyed, though not all were complete with registrations. Six reproduction Sopwith Camel
replicas being built for a film company were also destroyed, these were probably for a Biggles film that was planned to be made in 1969 but was later abandoned. Following this fire Slingsby Aircraft Ltd
went into liquidation and it became part of the Vickers Group later in the year. My father-in-law was working for the company at the time and became redundant.
The known aircraft and gliders that are known to have been damaged or destroyed are listed below. I would welcome additional information to identify any others.
Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer G-ARLA.
Slingsby T.66 Nipper G-AWIZ.
Slingsby T.66 Nipper G-AWLT.
Slingsby T.66 Nipper G-AWLU.
Slingsby T.21B Sedbergh WB964. This had been damaged in a flying accident on 5th July 1968 (possibly) at Kirknewton while on charge with No.661 V.G.S., it was at the factory for repair.
Slingsby T.31B Tandem Tutor BGA.851.
Slingsby T.45 Swallow BGA.1399.
Slingsby HP.14C BGA.1466.
Slingsby CAMCO V-Liner Mk.2a G-AWPR prototype. This was to have been the largest glider ever flown and was due to have been a huge flying advertising board, this was also a victim of it. In general
terms the front part of the glider and the back part of the glider were two seperate units with a long latice frame that would display the advertisment through lit bulbs on the frame.
Unregistered Tipsy Nipper crated, possibly destined for Zambia.
Slingsby T.49 Capstan G-AWDV.
Slingsby T.45 Swallow, Slingsby serial no.1672, under construction and registered in the USA as N7478.
Slingsby T.49 Capstan, Slingsby serial no.1671, under construction.
Slingsby T.53B Phoenix VH-GUC. Slingsby serial no.1576, under construction and registered for an Australian customer.
Slingsby T.53B Phoenix, Slingsby serial no.1578, under construction.
Slingsby T.53B Phoenix, Slingsby serial no.1602, under construction.
Slingsby T.53B Phoenix, Slingsby serial no.1609, under construction.