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Waco CG 3

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Wingspan
  
22 m

First flight
  
February 1942

Length
  
13 m

Manufacturer
  
Waco Aircraft Company

Waco CG-3 httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsaa

The Waco CG-3A was a US light troop military glider of World War II.

Contents

Design and development

The CG-3A was the United States Army Air Force's first production troop-carrying glider. 300 CG-3A 9-place gliders were initially ordered, but 200 of these were cancelled. A few of the 100 built by Commonwealth Aircraft (formerly Rearwin Aircraft) were used as trainers for the improved CG-4A, but most remained in their shipping crates in storage. The production CG-3A was developed from the experimental XCG-3 which was the only one built by Waco and given Army Air Forces Serial No. 41-29617.

Role in World War II

The CG-3A became obsolete with the development of the much improved Waco designed CG-4A 15-place glider with its alternate load of military equipment. The CG-3A did not see any combat and several were used in limited training roles.

Variants

  • XCG-3 : Prototype 8-seat glider. One built 1942.
  • CG-3A : Production 9-seat glider. 100 built by Commonwealth Aircraft.
  • Specifications (CG-3A)

    Data from The Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II

    General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: 7 troops
  • Length: 43 ft 4 in (13.21 m)
  • Wingspan: 73 ft 1 in (22.28 m)
  • Empty weight: 2,044 lb (927 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 4,400 lb (1,996 kg)
  • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 120 mph (193 km/h; 104 kn) (under tow)
  • Cruise speed: 100 mph (161 km/h; 87 kn)
  • Minimum control speed: 38 mph (61 km/h; 33 kn)
  • References

    Waco CG-3 Wikipedia