St. Louis CG-5

In 1941 the United States Army Air Force decided to use secondary sources to boost aircraft production and the St. Louis Aircraft Corporation was contracted to design and build a prototype of both an eight-seat and fifteen-seat troop carrying glider.[1] In total with the St. Louis examples, eight prototypes were ordered from different aircraft manufacturers.

The model SL-5 eight seat glider was given the military designation CG-5[2] and the prototype designated XCG-5. Howard C. Blosom test flew the XCG-5 from Lambert Field in 1942.[3] It proved to have serious aerodynamic flaws and structural problems causing Dutch Roll at speed.[1] The heavier fifteen-seat glider (designated the XCG-6) was not built.[2]

The USAAF ordered the Waco CG-3 for the eight/nine seat requirement, although only 100 were built. The fifteen-seat requirement was met by the Waco CG-4 of which more than 13,000 were built.

Data from skyways

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Capacity: 6
• Wingspan: 89 ft (27 m)
• Gross weight: 3,800 lb (1,724 kg)

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 110 kn (130 mph, 200 km/h) (experienced Dutch roll at max speed)

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Frankfort XCG-1
• Waco CG-3
• Bowlus XCG-7

Related lists

• List of World War II military gliders