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St. Louis CG-5

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
CG-5
Role Military transport Glider
National origin United States
Manufacturer St. Louis Aircraft Corporation
First flight 1942
Number built 1

The St. Louis CG-5 was a 1940s American prototype military transport glider designed and built by the St. Louis Aircraft Corporation.[1]

Development

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In 1941 the United States Army Air Force decided to use secondary sources to boost aircraft production and the St. Louis Aircraft Corporation was contracted to design and build a prototype of both an eight-seat and fifteen-seat troop carrying glider.[1] In total with the St. Louis examples, eight prototypes were ordered from different aircraft manufacturers.

The model SL-5 eight seat glider was given the military designation CG-5[2] and the prototype designated XCG-5. Howard C. Blosom test flew the XCG-5 from Lambert Field in 1942.[3] It proved to have serious aerodynamic flaws and structural problems causing Dutch Roll at speed.[1] The heavier fifteen-seat glider (designated the XCG-6) was not built.[2]

The USAAF ordered the Waco CG-3 for the eight/nine seat requirement, although only 100 were built. The fifteen-seat requirement was met by the Waco CG-4 of which more than 13,000 were built.

Specifications (CG-5)

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Data from skyways

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: 6
  • Wingspan: 89 ft (27 m)
  • Gross weight: 3,800 lb (1,724 kg)

Performance

See also

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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c "The St. Louis Cardinals, et al". Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum. Archived from the original on 2011-09-03. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  2. ^ a b Andrade 1979, p. 97
  3. ^ David Ostrowski. "The St. Louis Aircraft Corporation". Skyways.

Further reading

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  • Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.