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OTHER AIRCRAFT
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Registration Numbers: N67972 and N37603 Serial Number: 5 and 67 Military Number: 42-52958 and 42-52987 Airframe Total Time: not known Logbooks: for N67972 from 1968 to 1974 (last annual) Condition: basket cases Price: $4,000 USD Offers Location: near Albuquerque, NM, USA |
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DescriptionThis collection includes most of two World War Two military training gliders along with significant jigging and documentation to assist with the restoration. The TG-3As were constructed of non-strategic materials (ie. wood) and all of the wooden structures are no longer airworthy, the glue having deteriorated. Most of these structures are present for use as patterns, although some are badly deteriorated. There are almost two complete sets of empannage and control surfaces although there is only one set of wings with one of these consisting of not much more than the spar. The two tubular steel fuselages are complete. One is undamaged, the other has a good kink near the rear (groundloop or storage damage) but is easily repairable. Most of the rigging and mechnical components are there including canopy frames, seats, controls, and a panel. There are no instruments.Some significant tools accompany the collection including a substantial fuselage jig on mamoth castors which, in the words of the builder, "could handle a P-51 fuselage". In the photos one of the frames can be seen mounted in the jig and the other frame and wing pieces are lashed to it. A control surface jig is also provided which is sized to handle not only the control surfaces but also the turtle deck. The collection also contains an extensive set of manufuacturers drawings including at least the following numbers of drawings by size: 1 K size, 4 J size, 7 H size, 10 G size, 2 E size, 40 D size, and 2 A size drawings. Additional documents included with the collection are copies of the WWII military "Pilot's Operating Instructions", "Erection and Maintenance Instructions", and "Structural Repair Instrructions". Also see the Schweizer 3-view of the TG-3A from the Spring 98 issue of "Bungee Cord" |
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We have not researched the detailed history of these two ships. They were purchased from the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) several years ago. The CAF at one time owned three TG-3As and selected one for restoration. These are the remaining two. There is some literature from the CAF from the Rocky Mountain Soaring Club in Whitehall, Montana but this may have been from the ship which still belongs to the CAF.
We have recently obtained significant documentation on N67972 including logbooks from 1968 to 1974. The 1968 logbook indicates a recover at that time and unknown total time due to the prior owner having lost the logbooks. There are also FAA 337s describing work done on that aircraft in that period and numerous FAA registrations from prior owners. There are also miscellaneous documents describing details surrounding this aircraft. We currently have no documentation on N37603. That registration number was obtained from an issue of "The Bungee Cord" (see below) which listed the current survivors and the aircraft belonging to the CAF. The CAF provided us with the registration number of their aircraft and this identity was determined by process of elimination. We have not yet determined if any identifying information exists on the airframe parts.
From the USAF Musuem Website:
The TG-3A is a two-place, dual-control glider manufactured for the Army Air
Forces by the Schweizer Aircraft Co. during WW II. It was derived from the
Schweizer SGS 2-12 high-performance sailplane (designated XTG-3 by the
AAF). The AAF evaluated the aircraft in 1942 for suitability as a trainer for
cargo glider pilots. After testing three XTG-3s, the AAF ordered 110 TG-3As
from Schweizer (50 more were ordered from Air Glider, Inc. but only one was
built). Student glider pilots normally received about six hours dual instruction in
the TG-3As before being trained in the large CG-4A cargo glider .
The TG-3A's wings are made of spruce and mahogany plywood covered with doped fabric. It is equipped with spoilers (used to increase descent rate) as well as ailerons. The fuselage is constructed of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing which is fabric covered. The landing gear is a single unsprung wheel with a disc brake. In addition, there are skids on the nose, tail, and wing tips.
From the SSA Sailplane Directory:
When aluminum became unavailable during World War II, Schweizer reworked the all metal TG-2-8 (USAAC TG-2/USN LNS-1) into a wooden
sailplane. Besides being fabricated from wood, the wings were lowered from the 2-8's shoulder position to a mid/low mounting to
improve rear seat visibility. The wing was thickened to allow cantilever construction and greatere strength for high speed aerotowing.
Also, upper and lower spoilers were used and the design simplified for ease of construction. The 2-12 was a rugged high altitude ship,
Harland Ross set an altitude record of 36,100 feet in 1950 and Betsy Woodward held the feminine version of the same record.
The Spring '00 issue of "The Bungee Cord" featurs a TG-3A on the cover from the archives of the VSA Warren Watson collection and the Spring 1998 issue of "The Bungee Cord" has an article on the surviving TG series gliders which lists these two ships as belonging to the CAF. This issue also contains a fascinating article by Ernest Schweizer about the development and construction of the TG-3A. It is believed that there is only one surviving airworth TG-3A in Scandanavia.
TG-3As are in the collections of the following (many links are to photos of TG-3As)
The US Air Force Museum
Duxford
The Commemorative Air Force
Castle Air Museum
Pima Air and Space Museum
National Soaring Museum
The Silent Wings Museum
Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame and Museum
