The Use of Gliders in Civil Air Transport

Abstract

AT the start of a new era of civil air transport the possibilities offered by the numerous new developments in the operation as well as in the design of aircraft should be analysed in order to exploit them to the full extent in building up an efficient transport system. One of the new appearances in the field of air transportation is the towed glider, which reaped many laurels in the last war. Names like Crete, Sicily, Arnheim recall heroic battles in which glider troops played a prominent part. These military successes have given rise to many articles in which the transport glider is announced as an important discovery for economical air transport. Aerial trains consisting of one tug and a number of gliders have been proclaimed to be a new and valuable contribution to the future of civil aviation. On economic as well as safety considerations the author advises the advocates of the transport glider to restrain their enthusiasm and not to overestimate the future possibilities of this type of air transport.

Citation

Huls, I.L.L.T.v.i. (1946), "The Use of Gliders in Civil Air Transport", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 18 No. 6, pp. 199-199. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb031380