Waco / CG-4A
Glider Reg. Number:
c.1942
Design & Development
With 13,909 built, the Waco CG-4A was the most common U.S. cargo/transport glider of World War II. The static-test model was rushed through testing and accepted for U.S.
Army Air Forces service on June 20, 1942. Contractors with woodworking experience built many CG-4As under license, including piano makers and furniture companies.
Another major contractor, the Ford Motor Company, built over 4,000 examples.
The fabric-covered CG-4A was an externally braced high-wing monoplane with a steel tube fuselage and wooden wing structure. The cockpit was located in the hinged nose section, which was raised to access a compartment that could carry one Jeep, or a 75mm field gun, or other large cargo. The interior could also be fitted with benches to accommodate thirteen fully equipped troops. Because of the urgent demand, Waco designed the CG-4A to be flown safely by low-time pilots. Its surprisingly good handling characteristics belied its awkward appearance.
With one isolated exception (Philippines-CG-13A), the CG-4A was the only U.S. transport glider to be used operationally during World War II. Among their most visible uses were during the invasions of Italy in 1943 and of France in June 1944. Most surviving CG-4As were scrapped at the end of the war, some by individuals who purchased them solely to acquire the high-quality wood used for their shipping crates. The fuselage displayed here was donated by Harold Hudson of Pine City, NY, and restored under the leadership of Lee Robbins and Monty Sullivan of Horseheads, NY, in 1981.
Specifications
Span: 83' 7" 25.5 m
Length: 48' 14.6 m
Wing Area: 852 ft2 79.23 m2
Wing Loading (max.): 3,440 lbs. 1561.8 kg
Glide Ratio: 8.8 lbs./ ft2 42.96 kg/m2