Schweizer SGS 2-32 explained

The Schweizer SGS 2-32 is an American two-seat, mid-wing, two or three-place glider built by Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, New York.[1]

The 2-32 was designed to be the highest performance two-place glider available, when it first flew in 1962. The 2-32 has been used as a tourist glider, trainer, cross-country and high-altitude sailplane and has set many US and world records. A total of 87 aircraft were completed.[1] [2] [3]

Design and development

The SGS 2-32 was conceived as a mass-produced sailplane of modest performance to act as a step-up from the SGU 2-22 trainer then in common use in North America. After careful examination of the potential market, the company decided to produce a higher performance sailplane with a greater wingspan instead.[2]

The 2-32 design was started in 1961 and completed with certification under type certificate G1EA on 19 June 1964.[2] [4]

The 2-32 is all-metal, with a semi-monocoque aluminum fuselage and cantilever wings of 57 foot (17.37 m) span. It has top-and-bottom divebrakes and an all-flying stabilator tail.[1]

The aircraft seats two or three, with one seat in the front cockpit and a double bench seat in the back suitable for two smaller people of 150lb each, maximum. The aircraft is often described as a "2 seater".[1] [2]

The ability to carry two passengers, plus its complete and comfortable interior has made the 2-32 a popular aircraft with commercial glider operators for conducting tourist flights. The ability to carry two passengers doubled profitability for rides.[2]

The first customer aircraft were delivered in 1964, shortly after certification was completed.[2]

The type certificate is currently held by K & L Soaring of Cayuta, New York. K & L Soaring now provides all parts and support for the Schweizer line of sailplanes.[4] [5]

Derivative designs

The SGS 2-32 has been the basis of several derivative designs, including:[3]

Operational history

As soon as it entered service many pilots realized that this high performance two-place sailplane would be ideal to break many of the two-place records previously set by lower performance gliders.[1] [2]

At one time the 2-32 held the two-place speed records over 100 km, 300 km and 500 km courses, as well as many distance, out and return and altitude records in both the men's and women's categories. 2-32s were also flown in the 1964 US Nationals.[1] [2]

Some of the records set by pilots flying SGS 2-32s include:

In May 2014 there were still 58 2-32s registered in the USA[9] and one in Canada.[10]

In USAF service at the United States Air Force Academy the 2-32 was known as the TG-5.

Aircraft on display

The National Soaring Museum has two SGS 2-32s in its collection, N2767Z and N8600R, the prototype.[11] [12] N8600R is currently on loan to and on display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.[13]

References

Notes and References

  1. Said. Bob. 1983 Sailplane Directory. Soaring Magazine. November 1983. 32. Soaring Society of America.
  2. Book: Schweizer, Paul A. Wings Like Eagles, The Story of Soaring in the United States. registration. 1988. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington DC. 0-87474-828-3. 183–265.
  3. Book: The Aristocrat - The Schweizer 2-32. n.d.. Schweizer Aircraft Corp.
  4. Web site: GLIDER DATA SHEET NO. G1EA . 2008-05-28. Federal Aviation Administration. Federal Aviation Administration. September 2007.
  5. Web site: K & L Soaring, LLC. 2008-04-05. K & L Soaring. n.d..
  6. Web site: Goebel. Greg. The Prehistory of Endurance UAVs. VectorSite. Accessed 2010-06-18.. 10 April 2013.
  7. Book: Taylor, John W.R.. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1973–74. 1973. Jane's Yearbooks. London. 0-354-00117-5. 431.
  8. Web site: AMERICAN X-VEHICLES. 2008-11-08. Jenkins. Dennis R.. June 2003. etal.
  9. Web site: FAA Registry. 2014-05-02. Federal Aviation Administration. Federal Aviation Administration. May 2014.
  10. Web site: Canadian Civil Aircraft Register. 2014-05-02. Transport Canada. Transport Canada. May 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110718042755/http://wwwapps2.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/ccarcs/aspscripts/en/quicksearch.asp. 2011-07-18.
  11. Web site: Sailplanes in Our Collection. 2008-04-15. Munson. J.. n.d.. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110516142717/http://www.soaringmuseum.org/collection.html. 2011-05-16.
  12. Web site: N8600R N-Number Search. FAA. 2 September 2011.
  13. Web site: General Aviation. 2 September 2011.