A HISTORIC aircraft which was once a familiar site over Weston's skies is to be shown to visitors next year. 

People will get the chance to see a two-seated training glider - Slingsby T21B Sedbergh TX1 - at the Helicopter Museum near Haywood Village. 

It was the first of its kind to be flown by the Air Training Corps, the forerunner to today's Air Cadets. 

Transferred from the Royal Air Force Museum’s reserve collection, the aircraft will go on display as part of the Weston Aviation Exhibition.

The Sedbergh was built in 1948 for civilian use but was donated to the gliding school of White Waltham, in Berkshire.

A spokesperson said: "Sedberghs were based at Weston Airfield with No. 621 Gliding School for many years, giving air cadets their first experience of flight.

"They were a familiar sight above the skies of Weston.

"The commanding officer was Squadron Leader Arthur Robinson MBE who was a woodwork teacher at Weston Grammar School. Other teachers and students at the school also instructed at 621, including one of the museum’s trustees captain Peter Turner." 

Maggie Appleton of the RAF Museum said: “For almost four decades it offered many Air Training Corps students their first taste of flight.

"When I think of this aircraft I think of all those young future pilots and I sincerely wish that the young people who visit The Helicopter Museum are equally inspired."