The 2-22 met the need for a simple two-place trainer to replace war surplus military trainers such the TG-2 and TG-3. The 2-22 is of metal construction; steel tube fuselage and tail assembly; wings of aluminum - fabric covered.
The 2-22 became America's standard trainer for thousands of new soaring pilots through the 1950s and 60s. At that point it began to be replaced by the new SGS 2-33.