SAAB 91 Safir

PH-SGA Slingsby T.67C-3 Firefly c/n 2074 of the KLS at Groningen Airport Eelde in Holland on May 6, 1993

The Slingsby T.67 Firefly is a two-seat civil and military primary trainer. The Slingsby Firefly is a development of the Fournier RF-6B further developed by Slingsby Engineering Ltd. Production by Slingsby started with nine T.67As, which were basically licence built RF-6B-120s. The first Slingsby T.67A, G-BIOW c/n 1988, flew first in 1981. After re-development of the airplane with maximal use of glass fibre reinforced plastics the T.67B entered production, being the first UK-certified composite aircraft. The prototype of the T.67B, G-BUIZ c/n 1998, was flown first on April 16th 1981 and served as a development machine. A 116 hp Textron Lycoming O-235-N2A engine powers the T.67B. Further development of the aircraft resulted in the Slingsby T.67C Firefly. The T.67C is similar to the T.67B except for its more powerful 120kW (160hp) Textron Lycoming O-320 engine. The T-67C-3 as used by the KLS has wing tanks and a three-piece canopy. Next to the T.67C a military version, the T.67M was introduced. The first T.67M Firefly, G-BKAM c/n 1999, flew on December 5th 1982. 112 Slingby T.67M-260s were delivered as Slingsby T-3A Firefly to the U.S. Air Force's Air Education and Training Command for use as trainer aircraft to screen pilot candidates. 290 civil and military T.67s of all models were built.

In 1990 the RLS bought 9 Slingsby T.67C-3 Firefly for the basic training. They replaced the 8 Cessna F.152-II operating since 1980 in this rule. When in August 1991 the KLM took over the RLS and transferred it into the KLM Luchtvaartschool: the aircraft were repainted in the basic KLM colours. The 1990-built Slingsby T67C s/n 2074 was registered on September 4th 1990 with the Directie Rijksluchtvaartschool as PH-SGA (ex. G-7-137). It was photographed on May 6th 1993 in the KLS colours. After the PH-SGA was withdrawn from use it was sold in the UK and registered G-FLYG on August 23rd 2002.