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General Aircraft GAL.55
Role Training Glider
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer General Aircraft Limited
First flight 1943
Number built 2

The General Aircraft GAL.55 was a 1940s British military training glider designed and built by General Aircraft Limited.[1]

Development[]

The GAL.55 was a two-seat training glider to meet Air Ministry Specification TX.3/43.[1] The requirement called for a glider to train transport glider pilots and the GAL.55 had side-by-side seating, a tricycle landing gear, split trailing edge flaps and dive brakes.[1] Two gliders were built, the first flew in 1943 from Hanworth, the type flew well but they did not handle like the contemporary Hotspur and Horsa.[1] Having no training value the type did not enter production.[1]

Specifications[]

Data from Ellison 1971, p. 127

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 25 ft 6.5 in (7.785 m)
  • Wingspan: 35 ft 1.5 in (10.706 m)
  • Wing area: 182 sq ft (16.9 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 6.8
  • Empty weight: 1,650 lb (748 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,350 lb (1,066 kg)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 225 mph (362 km/h; 196 kn)

See also[]

References[]

Notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Ken Mason (February 2005). "GAL - industry innovator (Part 2)". p. 136. 

Bibliography[]

  • Ellison, Norman (1971). British Gliders and Sailplanes. London: A & C Black Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7136-1189-2. 
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