Waco CG-15

Manufacturer: Waco Aircraft Company
Primary user: US Army Air Forces
Number built: 473
Variants: CG-4A Waco

The Waco CG-15 was an American military glider, which was developed from the CG-4. Although outwardly similar to its predecessor and carrying the same number of passengers, a number of changes in the design, including shortened wings and a more streamlined nose enabled it to travel faster. 1,000 were ordered and 473 were delivered before production ceased. Two were transferred to the Navy for testing as the XLR2W-1. One unit was converted into an XPG-3 powered glider which used two Jacobs R-755-9 radial engines.

Variants

XCG-15
Prototype converted from a CG-4A, one conversion.
XCG-15A
New-build prototypes, two built.
CG-15A
Production variant, redesignated G-15A in 1948, 427 built.
PG-3
One XCG-15A fitted with two R-755-9 engines, redesignated G-3A in 1948.
XLR2W-1
Two CG-15As transferred to the United States Navy.
G-3A
PG-3 redesignated in 1948.
G-15A
CG-15A redesignated in 1948.

Operators

United States

US Army Air Force
US Navy

Specifications (CG-15A)

General characteristics

Crew: 2 pilots
Capacity: 13 troops
Length: 48 ft 10 in (14.9 m)
Wingspan: 62 ft 2 in (18.95 m)
Height: ()
Wing area: 623 ft² (57.88 m²)
Empty weight: 4,000 lb (1,814 kg)
Loaded weight: 8,035 lb (3,644 kg)
Useful load: 4,035 lb (1,830 kg)

Performance

Maximum speed: 180 mph (290 km/h)
Wing loading: 12.9 lb/ft² (62.96 kg/m²)

CG-4A Waco

Airspeed Horsa
Slingsby Hengist
General Aircraft Hamilcar
General Aircraft Hotspur
DFS 230

"The WACO CG-4A Invasion Glider". Fiddlersgreen.net. Archived from the original on 25 May 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070525061625/http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/AC/aircraft/WACO-cg4/waco_info/info.php. Retrieved 30 April 2007.
Handon, David. "WACO CG-15A". Dave's warbirds.com. http://www.daveswarbirds.com/usplanes/aircraft/cg-15a.htm. Retrieved 30 April 2007.

Waco CG-15 Pictures

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Source: WikiPedia