Waco CG-3

Last updated
CG-3A
Waco CG-3A.jpg
General information
TypeMilitary glider
Manufacturer Commonwealth Aircraft, Inc.
Designer
Primary userUnited States
Number built100
History
First flightEarly February 1942

The Waco CG-3A was a United States 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. [1]

Operational history

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

Specifications (CG-3A)

3-view line drawing of the Waco CG-3A Waco CG-3A 3-view line drawing.png
3-view line drawing of the Waco CG-3A

Data from The Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II [3]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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References

  1. Development and Procurement of Gliders for the Army Air Forces 1941–1944, AAF Historical Office, Headquarters, Army Air Forces, March 1946
  2. 1 2 Air Enthusiast June 1972, p. 321.
  3. Mondey 1996, pp. 248–249.