The Slingsby T67 Firefly, originally produced as the Fournier RF-6, is a two-seat aerobatic training aircraft, built by Slingsby Aviation in Kirkbymoorside, Yorkshire, England. It has been successfully used by the UK armed forces, with the Royal Air Force using 22 Slingsby T67M260s as their basic trainer between 1995 and 2010. Over 100,000 flight hours were flown out of RAF Barkston Heath by Army, Royal Navy and Royal Marines students.
The Slingsby has also been used by the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, the Royal Jordanian Air Force (still currently used), and other military training schools around the world for many years. Also, in December 2012, the National Flying Laboratory Centre at Cranfield University in the UK acquired a T67M260 to supplement its Scottish Aviation Bulldog aerobatic trainer for MSc student flight experience and training.
The Slingsby is a very competent basic trainer and is still operated by many private individuals for standard-level aerobatics training. It was flown by Prince Harry as a basic trainer during his Army Air Corps flying training course, based at RAF Barkston Heath, including his first solo flight in Slingsby T67M260 registration G-BWXG in 2009. Tom Cassells a British Aerobatic Champion regularly flies his Slingsby Firefly. However, in the mid-1990s, the aircraft became controversial in the United States after three fatal accidents during US Air Force training operations, although an Air Force investigation eventually attributed the accidents primarily to pilot error.
The Firefly was used as a basic military training aircraft in Canada, entering service in 1992 and replacing the Beechcraft CT-134 Musketeer. They were, in turn, replaced in 2006 by the German-made Grob G 120 when the contract ended. The aircraft were owned and operated by Bombardier Aerospace under contract to the Canadian Forces. There were no serious operational or maintenance issues with the Firefly in Canadian military service." Wikipedia and Harold A Skaarup Web Page
Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by crews of No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at the Canadian Aviation Training Centre, Southport, Manitoba. Also wore code number 201. Deleted from Canadian register on 1 September 2005, exported to the US. Experimental permit issued in the US by 23 February 2006. Registered to J.E. Swink of Flint Texas as N107GA on 20 August 2007.Known Squadron Assignments:
Owned by Bombardier by 30 July 1992. Used by crews of No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at the Canadian Aviation Training Centre, Southport, Manitoba. Also wore code number 202. Deleted from Canadian register on 1 September 2005, exported to the US. First US Airworthiness Certificate issued on 19 November 2005. Registered in experimental category as N113GA to J.E. Soules of Tyler, Texas on 9 December 2005.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by crews of No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at the Canadian Aviation Training Centre, Southport, Manitoba. Also wore code number 203. Deleted from Canadian register on 1 September 2005, exported to the US. First US Airworthiness Certificate issued on 2 November 2005. Registered in experimental category as N125GA to Gemini Aircraft LLC of Carson City, Nevada on 9 December 2005. Back in Canada by 2011, registered as C-GSTY to J. Helps of Headingly, Manitoba from October 2012.Known Squadron Assignments:
Owned by Bombardier by 30 July 1992. Used by crews of No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at the Canadian Aviation Training Centre, Southport, Manitoba. Also wore code number 204. Deleted from Canadian register on 1 September 2005, exported to the US. First US Airworthiness Certificate issued on 19 November 2005. Registered in experimental category as N204PF to G.P. Foox of Tyler, Texas on 8 December 2005.Known Squadron Assignments:
Owned by Bombardier by 20 August 1992. Used by crews of No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at the Canadian Aviation Training Centre, Southport, Manitoba. Also wore code number 205. Deleted from Canadian register on 1 September 2005, exported to the US. First US Airworthiness Certificate issued on 19 November 2005. Registered in experimental category as N132GA to A. Jwanouskos of Denison, Texas on 2 March 2006.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by crews of No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at the Canadian Aviation Training Centre, Southport, Manitoba. Also wore code number 206. Deleted from Canadian register on 1 September 2005, exported to the US. Registered in experimental category as N135GA to Gemini Aircraft of Carson City, Nevada on 12 September 2005. Most recent US Certificate of Airworthiness issued on 23 February 2006.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by crews of No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at the Canadian Aviation Training Centre, Southport, Manitoba. Also wore code number 207. Deleted from Canadian register on 1 September 2005, exported to the US. First US Airworthiness Certificate issued on 7 November 2005. Registered in experimental category as N104RF to Ron Farish Aircraft Inc. of Tyler, Texas on 2 November 2005. Registered in Canada 8 Aug 2022, as C-FCYG, owned by John Sims, Uxbridge ON. Noted at Buttonville ON 20 Aug 2022.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by crews of No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at the Canadian Aviation Training Centre, Southport, Manitoba. Also wore code number 208. Deleted from Canadian register on 1 September 2005, exported to the US. Registered in experimental category as N158GA to Grizzly Freight Systems of Coram, Montana on 2 March 2007. Most recent US Airworthiness Certificate issued on 4 May 2007.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by crews of No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at the Canadian Aviation Training Centre, Southport, Manitoba. Also wore code number 209. Deleted from Canadian register on 1 September 2005, exported to the US. First US Airworthiness Certificate issued on 9 December 2005. Registered in experimental category as N167MS to M.F. Prosser of Tyler, Texas on 29 November 2005.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by crews of No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at the Canadian Aviation Training Centre, Southport, Manitoba. Also wore code number 210. Deleted from Canadian register on 1 September 2005, exported to US. Temporary US Certificate issued on 12 September 2005. Registered in experimental category as N165GA to Gemini Aircraft LLC of Carson City, Nevada on 12 September 2005. Most recent Certificate of Airworthiness issued on 23 February 2006.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by crews of No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at the Canadian Aviation Training Centre, Southport, Manitoba. Also wore code number 211. Deleted from Canadian register on 1 September 2005, exported to US. Registered in experimental category as N166GA to Total Aviation Services of Las Vegas, Nevada on 6 December 2005. US Certificate of Airworthiness issued on 8 December 2005.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by crews of No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at the Canadian Aviation Training Centre, Southport, Manitoba. Also wore code number 212. Deleted from Canadian register on 1 September 2005, exported to US. Registered in experimental category as N169GA to C. Thomas of Las Vegas, Nevada on 6 December 2005. US Certificate of Airworthiness issued on 8 December 2005.