Waco CG-3

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]

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.

• XCG-3 : Prototype 8-seat glider. One built 1942.[2]
• CG-3A : Production 9-seat glider. 100 built by Commonwealth Aircraft.[2]

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 (190 km/h, 100 kn) (under tow)
• Cruise speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn)
• Minimum control speed: 38 mph (61 km/h, 33 kn)

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Airspeed Horsa
• Antonov A-7
• DFS 230
• General Aircraft Hotspur
• Gribovsky G-11
• Kokusai Ku-8
• 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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Waco CG-3.

• 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.