Waco CG-13

The Waco CG-13 was an American military transport glider aircraft developed during World War II. Wright Field Glider Branch realized a need for a glider larger than the CG-4A and requested designs. The response by several companies produced designs for five larger gliders. One of these designs was the XCG-13 by Waco Aircraft Company of Troy, Ohio.

The XCG-13 contract was for a 30-place design with an 8,000 lb useful load capacity to fly 174 mph at 12,000 feet altitude. Flight testing of the prototype was performed at Clinton County Army Air Field and the type was approved 10 March 1943. Testing found that the craft should use tricycle landing gear, and that a hydraulic system be incorporated to open the top-hinged nose opening. These features were incorporated into the second XCG-13.

Ford Motor Company at Kingsford, Michigan and Northwestern Aeronautical at St. Paul, Minnesota built YCG-13 models and were given contracts to build the production CG-13A. WACO was not given a production contract. Northwestern Aeronautical built 49 production articles. Ford built 48 as 30 place and 37 as 42 place by adding a bench down the center of the cargo section. Between the two companies, 268 contracted articles were canceled in favor of producing more CG-4A gliders.

The CG-13A glider maximum useful load was 10,200 lb. The 79 mph stall speed was 19 mph higher than specified. One CG-13A was flown in combat in the Appari Mission in the Philippines. The CG-13A gliders were not flown in combat in Europe but were used as transports in England and France. (See External Links for a photo)

Specifications (CG-13A)

Data from The Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 pilots
• Capacity: 30 or 42 troops (including flight crew)
• Length: 54 ft 4 in (16.56 m)
• Wingspan: 85 ft 8 in (26.11 m)
• Height: 20 ft 3 in (6.17 m)
• Wing area: 873 ft² (81.10 m²)
• Empty weight: 8,700 lb (3,946 kg)
• Loaded weight: 18,900 (8,572 kg)
• Useful load: 10,200 lb (4,626 kg)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 165 knots (190 mph, 306 km/h) (maximum towing speed)
• Stall speed: 79 mph (127 km/h)
• Wing loading: 21.65 lb/ft² (105.7 kg/m²)

Operators

 United Kingdom

• Royal Air Force
  • Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment - two CG-13As for trials in 1945.

 United States

• USAAF

References

1. ^ Mondey 1996, p. 235

• Mondey, David, The Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor, 1996. I185152 706 0.SBN
• Silent Ones WWII Invasion Glider Test and Experiment Clinton County Army Air Field Wilmington Ohio

External Links

• Army Glider Can Carry A Fully Loaded Truck August 1944 article on CG-4A