Main Menu
Britain's General Aircraft Hamilcar glider1
General Aircraft Hamilcar glider:
General Aircraft Hamilcar glider:
General Aircraft Hamilcar glider:
Design
The General Aircraft Hamilcar was designed to carry heavy payloads to landing zones.1 It could carry a Tetrarch, Locust, two Bren carriers, a 17 pdr gun, a mobile Bofors gun, or other equipment.1
The Hamilcar was made from wood.1
Cargo Bay
The cargo bay was 25' 6" / 7.77 m long, 8' / 2.44 m wide, and 7' 6" / 2.29 m high.1 The nose of the Hamilcar was hinged for easy loading and unloading.1
Undercarriage
There were wheels for takeoff which were jettisoned allowing for the Hamilcar to land on skids.1
Tugs
The usual tug for the Hamilcar were Halifaxes and sometimes Stirlings.1
Prototype
A half scale prototype first flew on March 27, 1942.1
Production
General Aircraft built the first 22, and the rest by subcontractors under the guidance of Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company.1
- Prototypes: 21
- Hamilcar Mk I: 4101
- Hamilcar Mk X: 22 converted1
- Total: 4121
Variants
- Hamilcar Mk I: Main production version.1
- Hamilcar Mk X: Conversion of Mk I.1 Was to be used against Japan.1 With two engines it could take off under its own power.1 100 were originally ordered but on 22 were completed by the end of World War II.1 None saw action.1
Usage
Normandy
70 Hamilcars took part in the landings on June 6, 1944, at Normandy.1
Arnhem
In September 1944, at Arnhem, 28 Hamilcars were used.1
Rhine Crossing
The Hamilcar was used during the Rhine crossings.1
| General Aircraft Hamilcar1 | General Aircraft Hamilcar Mk I1 | General Aircraft Hamilcar Mk X1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Glider1 | ||
| Crew | 21 | ||
| Passengers / Cargo | 17,500 lb1 7,938 kg1 |
21,400 lb1 9,707 kg1 |
|
| Engine (Type) | None1 | 2: Bristol Mercury 311 | |
| Cylinders | Radial 91 | ||
| Cooling | |||
| HP | 965 each1 | ||
| Propeller blades | 2 each1 | ||
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 110'1 33.53 m1 |
||
| Length | 68'1 20.73 m1 |
||
| Height | 20' 3"1 6.17 m1 |
||
| Wing area | |||
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 19,500 lb1 8,845 kg1 |
25,510 lb1 11,571 kg1 |
|
| Loaded | 37,000 lb1 16,783 kg1 |
||
| Maximum load for towing | 47,000 lb1 21,319 kg1 |
||
| Performance | |||
| Maximum towing speed | 150 mph1 241 kph1 |
||
| Maximum diving speed | 187 mph1 301 kph1 |
||
| Stall speed | 65 mph1 105 kph1 |
||
| Speed | 145 mph1 233 kph1 |
||
| Climb | |||
| Service ceiling | |||
| Range | 705 miles1 1,135 km1 |
||
| Maximum ferry range with no payload | 1,675 miles1 2,695 km1 |
||
| Armament |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
