Waco CG-3

CG-3A
Role	Military glider
Manufacturer	Commonwealth Aircraft, Inc.
Designer	Waco Aircraft Company
First flight	Early February 1942
Primary user	USA
Number built	100
Unit cost	approx $24,000

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

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]

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.^[2]
• CG-3A : Production 9-seat glider. 100 built by Commonwealth Aircraft.^[2]

Specifications (CG-3A)

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

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 (87 kn; 161 km/h)
• Minimum control speed: 38 mph (33 kn; 61 km/h)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Airspeed Horsa
• DFS 230
• General Aircraft Hotspur
• Schweizer cargo glider designs
• Slingsby Hengist
• Waco CG-4

Related lists

• List of aircraft of World War II
• List of World War II military gliders

References

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

• Mondey, David (1996). The Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor Press. ISBN 185152 706 0.
• "Transport Gliders: The Rise and Demise of a Weapon:Part Four". Air Enthusiast. Vol. 2 no. 6. June 1972. pp. 318–322.

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Antonov A-7
• DFS 230
• Gribovski G-11
• Kokusai Ku-8