G Glider Used at the USAF Test Pilot School

UNITED STATES MILITARY AIRCRAFT by Jos Heyman

Tri-service

Many of the aircraft included in the G series were used by the USAF Academy and received civilian registrations as well as serials. Most of the latter used out of sequence Fiscal years as well as numbers in the 9xxxxx range based on the aircraft’s construction number.

Last updated: 1 January 2016

G-1 Schweizer SGS 2-25

Specifications: span: 60’0, 18.29 m length: max. speed:

The TG-1A was a two-seat glider used at the US Air Force Academy. Being the only example built, it was used in the 1954 and 1956 World Championships before being donated to the US Air Force Academy where it was registered as N225AF and was used until 1986. It has been suggested that its serial was 54-90001.

G-2 Schweizer 2-22E

Specifications: span: 43’0”, 13.11 m length: 25’1”, 7.63 m max. speed: 89 mph, 143 km/h

The TG-2A was a two-seat glider used at the US Air Force Academy. Serials included 64-900200 which aircraft also carried civilian registration N5824V (c/n 200). It was subsequently sold and remains in use as at 2008.

Refer also to S-1

G-3 Schweizer SGS 1-26B

Specifications: span: 40', 12.19 m length: 21'7", 6.58 m max. speed: 114 mph, 183 km/h

(Source: www.aetc.af.mil/photos/mediagallery)

The TG-3A was a single-seat glider used at the US Air Force Academy. Aircraft included serials and registrations 66-900354 (N2426W), 66-900358 (N2426W), 77-900265 (N5830V), 77-900484 (N1155S), 91-0515 (used by the US Army) and 92-624 (N33894). A TG-3B version (type 1-26E) was in use with serials and registrations 78-900681 (N296LH), 78-900682 (N2952H), 79-900696 (N2983H), 89-461 (N17953), 89-462 (N17920) and 89-463. Other known registrations are N1137S (c/n 517), N17920 (c/n 530), N17953 (c/n 553), N33894 (c/n 624), N33926 (c/n 641).

Refer also to S-2

G-4 Schweizer SGS 2-33A

Specifications: span: 51', 15.55 m length: 25'9", 7.85 m max. speed: 98 mph, 157 km/h

(Source: USAF Academy)

The TG-4A was a tandem two-seat glider used by the US Air Force Academy. Serials and registrations included 68-900132, 70-900168 (N7538), 70-900169 (N7539), 70-900200 (N1200S), 71-900201 (N1191S), 71-900202 (N1192S), 71-900203 (N1193S), 72-900246 (N17868), 77-900475 (N2045T), 79-900558 (N2968H), 80-700586 (M96255), 80-900566 (N5039Y), 88- 268 (N3614B), 89-464 (N5779S), 92-1539 (N5742S), 92-1540 (N2805H), 92-1541 and 92-1542 (N2043T). In addition civilian registrations N17882 (c/n 252), N2037T (c/n 467), N2046T (c/n 476), N2054T (c/n 494), N2447W (c/n 12), N2480W (c/n 34), N2890H (c/n 550), N2953H (c/n 553), N5720S (c/n 65), N5765S (c/n 98), N65844 (c/n 335), N65846 (c/n 335), and N7771S (c/n 141) are known. These may have been used by the Civil Air Patrol and may not have carried a military designation and serial.

G-5 Schweizer SGS 2-32S

Specifications: span: 57’1", 17.40 m length: 26'9", 8.15 m max. speed: 150 mph, 241 km/h

(Source: USAF Academy)

The TG-5A was a three-seat glider used at the US Air Force Academy. Serials and registrations included 76-900086 (N2598H). In addition the Civil Air Patrol operated one with registration N99859 (c/n 37) but this aircraft may not have carried a military designation or serial.

G-6 Schweizer SGS 1-34

Specifications: span: 49’2”, 15.00 m length: 25'9", 7.85 m max. speed: 135 mph, 217 km/h

(Source: (Source: akwg.cap.gov/zenphoto.shtml)

The TG-6A was a single-seat glider used at the US Air Force Academy. Serials included 79-900093 (N2683H). This particular aircraft (c/n 93) later went to the Civil Air Patrol. It remained with the CAP in 2012.

G-7 Schweizer SGM 2-37

Specifications: span: 59'6", 18.14 m length: 27'5", 8.36 m engines: 1 Avco Lycoming O-235-L2C max. speed: 133 mph, 214 km/h

(Source: USAF Academy)

The TG-7A was a side-by-side two seat glider used by the US Air Force Academy. Serials and registrations were 81-0886 (N31AF), 81-0887(N32AF), 81-0888 (N23AF), 82-0039 (N24AF), 82-0040 (N26AF), 82-0041 (N27AF), 82-0042 (N38AF), 82- 0043 (N39AF), 87-0761 (N765AF) 87-0762 (N762AF), 87-0763 (N763AF) and 87-0764 (N764AF). Aircraft with serials 81-0889 and 81-0890 may have been cancelled.

G-8 Schweizer SA 2-37A

Specifications: span: 61'6", 18.75 m length: 27'9", 8.46 m engines: 1 Lycoming O-540-L2C max. speed: 159 mph, 256 km/h

(Source: USCG)

In 1985 two RG-8A s were ordered by the US Army with serials 85-047/048 for surveillance and law enforcement duties. They were later used by the Coast Guard with serials 8101 and 8102. The designation TG-8A has been applied to a single aircraft with serial 86-404, although other reference source have allocated this serial to another RG-8A and it is likely that the aircraft was converted to the latter designation.

(Source: Schweizer?)

In 1994 the remaining two RG-8As 85-047 and 86-404 were converted into a single aircraft with a span of 64', 19.15 m and twin tail booms. Designated as RU-38A and also known as SA2-38A, it had 2 Teledyne GIO-550 engines. Another two aircraft were also procured. The first aircraft flew for the first time with civil registration N61428 and carried serial 8103 at a later date. The second aircraft carried serial 8101. The third aircraft was cancelled along with the cancellation of the programme.

G-9 Schleicher ASK-21

Specifications: span: 55'9", 16.99 m length: 27'5", 8.36 m max. speed: 174 mph, 280 km/h

(Source: USAF Academy)

Tandem two seat glider of which several examples were used as TG-9A at the US Air Force Academy with serials 86-1971 (N971AF), 86-1972 (N972AF), 87-1973 (N973AF), 87-1974 (N974AF) and 87-1975 (N975AF) with an additional four aircraft also in use.

G-10 LET L23 Super Blanik

Specifications: span: 53’2”, 16.20 m length: 27’11”, 8.50 m max. speed: 155 mph, 250 km/h

(Source: USAF Academy)

The TG-10A was a glider used at the US Air Force Test Pilot School with serial and registration 93-8028 (N268BA). In addition the glider was also procured by the Civil Air Patrol. In 2002 US Air Force Academy acquired 12 L23 Super Blanik gliders as TG-10B Merlin. The serials and registrationes were 02-9005 (N410BA), 02-9006 (N419BA), 02-9007 (N420BA), 02-9008 (N426BA), 02-9009 (N427BA), 02-9010 (N428BA), 02- 9011 (N430BA), 02-9012 (N431BA), 02-9013 (N433BA), 02-9014 (N434BA), 02-9015 (N437BA) and 02-9016 (N438BA). In 2012 these aircraft were transferred to the Civil Air Patrol. The Academy also acquired 5 L13AC Blanik gliders as TG-10C Kestrel. These had serials and registrations 02-8902 (N421BA), 02-8903 (N422BA), 02-8904 (N423BA), 02-8905 (N424BA) and 02-9101 (N435BA). The TG-10D Oeregine designation was used for 4 L33 Solo Blanik gliders which had serials and registrations 02-0520 (N406BA), 02-0602 (N407BA), 02-0603 (N408BA) and 02-0604 (N409BA). Some reference sources show the serials as construction numbers.

G-11 Stemme S-10V

Specifications: span: 75'6", 23.01 m length: 27'7", 8.41 m engines: 1 Limbach L2400 max. speed: 168 mph, 270 km/h

(Source: aetc.af.mil/photos/mediagallery)

Side by side two seat glider of which several examples were used as TG-11A at the US Air Force Academy. Serials and registrations included 94-1400 (N94FT) and 94-1500 (N94FW).

G-12 Caproni Vizzola Calif A-21

Specifications: span: 66’11”, 20.40 m length: 84’4”, 25.70 m max. speed: 105 mph, 170 km/h

N206CA (Source; unknown)

Built between 1970 and 1982, the TG-12A was a side by side two seat training glider used at the USAF Test Pilot School. It carried the civilian registration N206CA (c/n 206) and was originally privately owned and was used for several record flights. It was subsequently sold to the Boeing Co. where it was used in a flight test program for a missile seeker. The nose cone was replaced with a radome and the seeker was mounted in front of the pilot. The USAF obtained the glider at the end of the program and it was restored to original configuration. No serial is known.

G-13

The G-13 designation has not been assigned.

G-14 Grupo Aeromot AMT-200S Super Ximango

Specifications: span: 57’4”, 17.47 m length: 26’5”, 8.05 m engines: 1 Rotax 912S4 max. speed: 137 mph, 220 km/h

(Source: USAF Academy)

The TG-14A was a two seat training glider used at the US Air Force Academy. Fourteen were procured with registrations N136XS (c/n 200.136) to N149XS (c/n 200.149). It has also been suggested that the aircraft had serials 01-0136/0149 although some references have suggested they were in FY02.

G-15 Schempp-Hirth Discus

Specifications: span: 65’7”, 20.00 m length: 28’3”, 8.62 m max. speed: 155 mph, 250 km/h

(Source: USAF)

Two Duo Discus two seaters were acquired by the USAF Academy as TG-15A. They were registered as N161AF and N162AF. Three Discus 2B single seaters were also acquired as TG-15B and with registrations N162AF, N164AF and N165AF. They had a span of 49’2”, 15.00 m and a length of 22’4”, 6.81 m.

G-16 DG Flugzeugbau DG1000 Club

Specifications: span: 59’9”, 18.20 m length: 28’1”, 8.57 m max. speed: 168 mph, 270 km/h

(Source: usafa.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos)

In 2011 the USAF Academy acquired 19 two seat TG-16A gliders, built in Germany. The serials and registration under which they were flown were 10-0001 (N513DG), 10-0002 (N614DG), 10-0003 (N615DG), 10-0004 (N616DG), 10-0005 (N717DG), 10-0006 (N309DG), 10-0007 (N718DG), 10-0008 (N719DG), 10-0009 (N310DG), 10-0010 (N311DG), 10-0011 (N521DG, 10- 0059 (N308DG), 10-0094 (N306DG), 10-0100 (N501DG), 10-0200 (N502DG), 10-0300 (N503DG), 10-0306 (N307DG), 10- 0400 (N204DG) and 10-0500 (N205DG).