Which WACO glider?

[Aeronut]

I've been tasked with the identification of artifacts held in store by the Museum of Army Flying at Middle wallop in the UK.
Amongst the various bits of Westland, Augusta and Bell hellicopters were two items that I recognise as WACO glider. One is certainly the main wing strut from a CG-4 Hadrian whilst the other is more of a puzzle.

It would appear to be a tailplane strut (its geometry would fit a CG-4, I checked it against the Hadrian in the museum) but I've only ever seen WACOs with wire braced tailplanes.

It is the same type of construction as the main strut (tube / rib covered in fabric) it's painted neutral grey and has two part / drawing numbers on it.

Is there anyone out there who can tell me what WACO it is off. CG-4, CG-13 or CG-15.

the numbers on it are:- CAG-29706-R and FO--13CD3 ?? RD2 the last one is partly obsured but I hope you can see why I expect it will turn out to be from a CG-13 one of which I know was tested by the British in 1945.

Over to you.

[n5151ts]

...there is a museum outside Lincoln that has a Waco...its been a couple of years but I vaguely remember seeing one there...if that helps at all...

[Old SAR pilot]

Might give the folks at the Silent Wings Museum a query, along with a pic of the part:

http://www.silentwingsmuseum.com/info.htm

[gliderman1]

Aeronut

Please email a digital image to me if you would-- 150 to 200 dpi is fine.

CAG-29706-R this may be a part number that was replaced.
There is no such number in the parts list I have. The closest is 29707.

FO--13CD3 ?? RD2 -- I think the FO indicates Ford and the balance of the number is a Ford number. If it is Ford, it can not be a CG-15A part as Ford did not build them. Ford did build CG-13A, but those part numbers (I do not have a complete list) I have begin with 4 not 2.

My regards to Nick and Allison.

Charles Day
gliderman.one@verizon.net
Silent Ones WWII Invasion Glider Test & Experiment

[Robbo]

Aeronut, the Waco at the Assault Glider Trust at Shawbury has a strut-braced tail



Here's a closer crop of the same photo

[gliderman1]

The CG-4A and CG-13A both had strut braced horizontal stabilizers.

The supports for the vertical stabilizer were what is known to be changed from the original X and CG-4A production articles -- changed to steel wire cables to eliminate the tail flutter problem.

The posted part number does not match any numbers in my CG-4A numerical or grouped parts numbers. As a 2xxxx number, it also does not match the 4xxxx numbers used for CG-13A parts.

I do not have a copy of a change order for the strut, but this number difference makes me think the CG-4A tail strut also was changed and the posted strut part (number) was replaced with a different, newer, higher, strut number. That is perhaps the reason the part exists today?

[Aeronut]

Robbo, I can't remember seeing the bracing on the Hadrian when I last saw it at Shawbury. However, the ones in your photos certainly fit the description of the one at Wallop.
Do you know how is the trust is getting on? their website hasn't been updated in ages and I won't be able to get to their next open day in July due to being in Arizona minding a UAV!

Gliderman I will e'mail my photos to you and will pass on your regards to Nick, allison and all at Wallop.

Alastair

[Robbo]

Alastair, we had a PlaneTalk outing to Shawbury in October last year and I was very impressed at the progress the team had made. There are some photos from our visit here http://forum.planetalk.net/viewtopic.php?t=5113

and and earlier visit here

http://forum.planetalk.net/viewtopic.php?t=4691

The contact at the AGT is Tim Jenkins. His email address is t.n.jenkins@btconnect.com.

Rob