Schweizer SGS 2-32

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The Schweizer SGS 2-32 is a United States two-seat, mid-wing, two or three-place glider built by Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, New York.Said, Bob: "1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine", page 32. Soaring Society of America, November 1983. USPS 499-920]

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.Schweizer Aircraft Corp: "The Aristocrat - The Schweizer 2-32". Schweizer Aircraft Corp, undated.]

Background

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.

Development

The 2-32 design was started in 1961 and completed with certification under type certificate G1EA on 19 June 1964. cite web|url = http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library%5CrgMakeModel.nsf/0/5B12B06DD9D759A7862573B100583213?OpenDocument|title = GLIDER DATA SHEET NO. G1EA |accessdate = 2008-05-28|last = Federal Aviation Administration|authorlink = |year = 2007|month = September]

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.

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 convert|150|lb|abbr=on each, maximum. The aircraft is often described a "2 1/2 seater".

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.

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

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. cite web|url = http://klsoaring.com/|title = K & L Soaring, LLC|accessdate = 2008-04-05|last = K & L Soaring|authorlink = |year = undated]

Competition and Records

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.

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.

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

*World record two-place out and return flight, 404 miles (654 km), May 23, 1970, Joe Lincoln and Cris Crowl. Lincoln's 2-32, named "Cibola", had special longer wings of convert|67|ft|m|sing=on span installed that increased performance further.
*World record two-place speed over 100 km (63 miles) Triangle, 74 mph 120 km/h), 1971, Joe Lincoln.
*World record two-place feminine absolute altitude 35,463 feet (10,809 m) and altitude gain 24,545 feet (7848 m), 5 March 1975, Babs Nutt.

In service

In May 2008 there were still 64 2-32s registered in the USA [ cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/acftinqSQL.asp?striptxt=SGS232&mfrtxt=Schweizer&cmndfind.x=12&cmndfind.y=10&cmndfind=submit&modeltxt=SGS+2-32|title = FAA Registry|accessdate = 2008-05-28|last = Federal Aviation Administration|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = May] and one in Canada. [ cite web|url = http://www.tc.gc.ca/aviation/activepages/ccarcs/aspscripts/en/menu.asp|title = Canadian Civil Aircraft Register|accessdate = 2008-05-28|last = Transport Canada|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = May]

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

Derivative designs

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

*Bede BD-2 long range experimental aircraft designed by Jim Bede
*Lockheed YO-3 quite surveillance aircraft
*Ling-Temco-Vought L450F turboprop record setting aircraft

Museum

The National Soaring Museum has two SGS 2-32s in its collection, N2767Z and N8600R. cite web|url = http://www.soaringmuseum.org/collection.html|title = Sailplanes in Our Collection|accessdate = 2008-04-15|last = Munson|first = J.|authorlink = |year = undated]

pecifications

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crew=1-Two, or one pilot plus two passengers
capacity=
length m=
length ft=
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span m=17.37
span ft=57
span in=0
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wing area sqm=16.72
wing area sqft=180
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volume m3=
volume ft3=
aspect ratio= 18.05
wing profile= NACA 63(3)-618, NACA 43012A
empty weight kg=377
empty weight lb=831
gross weight kg=608
gross weight lb=1,340
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max speed kmh=252
max speed mph=158
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glide ratio= 33 at 52 mph (83 km/h)
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sink rate ms= 0.61
sink rate ftmin= 120
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ee also

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* List of gliders

References

External links

* [http://www.gliderridehawaii.com/photos/gliders/61S-1_s.jpgPhoto of SGS 3-32]