FIRST MOTOR GLIDER ?

[Vorsanger1]

The May '04 of the Smithsonian's Air & Space magazine carries an interesting
article on the development of the QT-2 "spy plane" in the late 60s during the
Vietnam War.

The prototype test airplane was a Schweitzer 2-32 on which a Continental 0-200
engine was mounted on top of the fuselage behind the cockpit. The engine drove
a long shaft above the canopy to an 8-ft, 4-blade propeller. "QT" was the
designation for "Quiet Thrust". It could be barely heard at 250 ft, not at all
at 800 ft. Operational tests were apparently succesful, and production
airplanes using the technology of quiet engines were developed as the YO-3,
which bore only a very distant resemblance to the original Schweitzer 2-32.
Only the tail assembly shows the origin.

Cheer, Charles

[John H. Campbell]

>The May '04 of the Smithsonian's Air & Space magazine carries an
interesting
>article on the development of the QT-2 "spy plane" in the late 60s during
the
>Vietnam War.

A great story and testament to SAC's service to military and research
airframe needs. Nothing to do with motorgliders, however, and the "first'
of those goes back much further, to the Nelson Hummingbird, Bowlus
Dragonfly... and the motorized gliders at the Rhoen late1920's.

The core of one of the prototype QT-PCs (also X-26B), N2472W, flies happily
today at Boulder, restored as one of the nicest SGS 2-32s around (S/N 67,
IIRC). It gave another couple of "double" rides today. As a nostalgic nod
by its restorer, Bruce Miller, it wears a Lockheed decal and project
airframe serial number as well as a SAC logo. Come fly it at Mile High
Gliding!

[Shawn Curry]

John H. Campbell wrote:
>>The May '04 of the Smithsonian's Air & Space magazine carries an
>
> interesting
>
>>article on the development of the QT-2 "spy plane" in the late 60s during
>
> the
>
>>Vietnam War.
>
>
> A great story and testament to SAC's service to military and research
> airframe needs. Nothing to do with motorgliders, however, and the "first'
> of those goes back much further, to the Nelson Hummingbird, Bowlus
> Dragonfly... and the motorized gliders at the Rhoen late1920's.
>
> The core of one of the prototype QT-PCs (also X-26B), N2472W, flies happily
> today at Boulder, restored as one of the nicest SGS 2-32s around (S/N 67,
> IIRC). It gave another couple of "double" rides today. As a nostalgic nod
> by its restorer, Bruce Miller, it wears a Lockheed decal and project
> airframe serial number as well as a SAC logo. Come fly it at Mile High
> Gliding!
>
>
Featured in a very nice Soaring cover some years back too.
Best I could find
http://tinyurl.com/2jszu

Shawn

[Shawn Curry]

>>
> Featured in a very nice Soaring cover some years back too.
> Best I could find
> http://tinyurl.com/2jszu
>
> Shawn

OK, this is a better shot.
http://www.nicophoto.com/displayimage.php?album=4&pos=1