Waco CG-13

The Waco CG-13 was an American military transport glider aircraft developed during World War II.

Design and development
Wright Field Glider Branch realized a need for a glider larger than the CG-4A and requested designs. The response by several companies produced designs for five larger gliders. One of these designs was the XCG-13 by Waco Aircraft Company of Troy, Ohio.

The XCG-13 contract was for a 30-place design with an 8000 lb useful load capacity to fly 174 mph at an altitude of 12000 ft altitude. Flight testing of the prototype was performed at Clinton County Army Air Field and the type was approved on 10 March 1943. Testing found that a tricycle landing gear should be used, and that a hydraulic system be incorporated to open the top-hinged nose opening. These features were incorporated into the second XCG-13.

Ford Motor Company at Kingsford, Michigan and Northwestern Aeronautical at St. Paul, Minnesota built YCG-13 models and were given contracts to build the production CG-13A. WACO was not given a production contract. Northwestern Aeronautical built 49 production articles. Ford built 48 as 30 place and 37 as 42 place by adding a bench down the center of the cargo section. Between the two companies, 268 contracted articles were canceled in favor of producing more CG-4A gliders.

Operational history
The CG-13A glider maximum useful load was 10200 lb. The 79 mph stall speed was 19 mph higher than specified. One CG-13A was flown in combat in the Aparri Mission in the Philippines. The CG-13A gliders were not flown in combat in Europe but were used as transports in England and France.

Operators

 * Royal Air Force
 * Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment - two CG-13As for trials in 1945.
 * United States Army Air Forces
 * United States Army Air Forces
 * United States Army Air Forces