60 | Pilot September 2017 http://www.pilotweb.aero
Access to the cockpit isn’t the easiest. The
canopy hinges forward and there are large
metal stirrups on both sides, but being a
monowheel it always rocks from side-to-
side as you saddle up. If there are two of
you, don’t try and get in simultaneously−
it won’t work. Two more helpful hints are:
don’t leave the parking brake on for any
length of time (it stretches the cable) and
always leave the rotary selector for the
four-point harness to locked−otherwise it
knackers the springs. The canopy can be
jettisoned, which is curious as when it
was in service with the ATC cadets didn’t
wear parachutes.
Another curiosity is that although the
min/max cockpit loading is incredibly
broad (from 22kg to over 200kg) neither
the seats, sticks nor rudder pedals adjust.
Having clearly considered that the cadets’
weights would vary considerably, it
doesn’t seem to have occurred to the
designers that their sizes would be equally
variable. It’s not the most comfortable
cockpit I’ve ever sat in. There’s only one
brake lever (on the left stick), but two
spoiler levers, one on the left and one in
the centre. Like many Venture drivers, I
tend to take off flying left-handed but land
(and also glide) right-handed. Trim lever
and fuel selector are between the seats.
The panel is pretty basic, with variometer,
ASI, turn-and-slip, and altimeter in front of
the pilot, and the tachometer and oil
pressure and temperature on the far right.
A CHT gauge is an odd omission.Automatic throttle setting
Starting up is slightly different to your typical
air-cooled aero-engine. As you pull out the
choke knob the throttle simultaneously and
automatically moves in, because they are
interconnected. Do not touch! The throttle is
now perfectly set for a cold start, so stick
back and pull the brake lever, select the
single magneto on, turn the rotary master
switch ninety degrees clockwise, check the
small orange light has illuminated and pull
the starter handle. If you’ve ever owned an
old Fiat 500 and think that starter handle
looks familiar, you’re right. If the engine has
been set up correctly it will start readily and
you’ll probably have to shut the choke and
reduce power promptly. It’s also important
to make sure that the starter handle is
pushed completely home post-start,
otherwise the Bendix won’t fully retract and
you’ll hear the starter motor’s teeth
chattering on the starter ring. Check that the
oil pressure is rising and that the brake is
working satisfactorily and we come to one of
the most challenging aspects of flying a
Venture−taxying it.
One of the reasons why the Venture is a
good basic trainer is that it teaches realFlight Test | Slingsby T61F
No luxuries in a cockpit that was designed to be a place of work
The luggage shelf might have been designed for stuff to fall down your back
The fuel gauge is sited nicely out of view behind the
pilot — but at least it is in the cockpit
Well worn trim lever and fuel cock. How many hands
have operated these levers over the years?