35° FLIGHT SEPTEMBER 28TH, 1944

Studies in Recognition

Aircraft in Flying Attitudes

P ERHAPS the most interesting point about a comparison

between the Waco CG-13A and the earlier CG-4A is that
although the former is very little larger in overall dimensions
than the latter—as a glance at the adjoining silhouettes clearly
show—its carrying capacity in terms of troops is just double;
it can transport 30 armed and equipped men in addition to the
crew, compared with the CG-4A's 15 men. This has been
achieved by deepening and widening the fuselage, and by
devoting a greater proportion of its slightly increased length
to crew or freight accommodation. A somewhat high aspect-
ratio wing of slightly greater span is employed, and the CG-13
type can carry a freight load very nearly equal to its own
empty weight of just over 4J U.S. tons.
I t is almost exactly twelve months since work began on the Waco CG-13 Glider.
prototype of the CG-13, but it first flew just before Christmas.

The streamlined nose

of the Waco CG-13
and 13A " tactical
transport'' gliders on
the U.S.A.A.F. show-
ing the pilots' door
and the extensive
glazing to give maxi-
mum visibility. The
attachment point for
the nylon tow-roRe
can be seen in the
centre of the nose
panel.

The CG-13 (photograph, top right) was fitted with a conven-

tional type of undercarriage and skids, the main two wheels
being jettisonable. The CG-13A, illustrated in silhouettes SCALE COMPARISON : These two side view silhouettes of
above, has a tricycle undercarriage and is the first U.S.A.A.F. the CG-13 A a11^ the CG-4A give a direct scale comparison
glider to be so equipped. This landing gear incorporates of their respective dimensions as well as showing their main
double nose wheels and, as it is not jettisoned in flight, no skids structural differences. The CG-13 A ( to P) h a s a fixed tricycle
are required. undercarriage, far better streamlined shape, and straight
The two side views of the respective fuselages of the CG-13A top-line.
and CG-4A types shown here, illustrate how readily the two can
be distinguished from each other from this angle. The larger
and later glider (incidentally, it is officially known as a
"tactical t r a n s p o r t " ) has a smoothly rounded nose which is
almost completely glazed, a perfectly straight, top line, and a
very large, high aspect-ratio fin and rudder. The smaller
glider, however, has only the normal amount of "office win-
dow " and a wavy top line caused by the diminished section of
the fuselage, aft of the main compartment, which is upswept to
the tail; the long dorsal fillet, reminiscent of the B-17 tail, is
responsible for this upswept effect in silhouette.
Seen in plan, the difference between the two types are not
so marked, but the tailplane of the CG-13 A is of appreciably
smaller aspect-ratio than that of the CG-4A, and the wings are
set further back on the fuselage. Dimensions of the CG-13A
are: Span 85ft. 8in., length 54ft. 4m. Waco CG-4A Hadrian.