Taylorcraft LBT

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylorcraft_LBT

The Taylorcraft LBT was a glider designed and built by Taylorcraft during World
War II, in response to a United States Navy requirement for a glider bomb. One
of three prototype "Glombs" ordered by the Navy, the LBT suffered from technical
and performance difficulties, and was cancelled early in production, none of the
aircraft seeing operational service.

During December 1940, the United States Navy began studies of a proposed "glider
bomb", which was intended to be an inexpensive, unpowered aircraft, remotely
controlled from another, conventional aircraft, that would be capable of
delivering bombs to an enemy target without putting aircrew at risk to the
target's defenses. The glider bomb, or "Glomb", would be towed by an ordinary
carrier-based aircraft to the area of its target; guidance following release of
the glider from its towing aircraft was intended to be provided by a TV camera
located in the nose of the glider, which would transmit its signal to a piloted
aircraft, an operator aboard the control aircraft using radio control to steer
the Glomb to its target. Following the Navy's initial evalulation, the Glomb
comcept was deemed to be worth developing further, and the project was given
official status by the Bureau of Aeronautics in April 1941.

The initial trials of the Glomb concept were conducted using conversions of
existing gliders for unpiloted, remotely controlled flight; these tests seemed
to indicate that the concept had promise, and a request for designs from
industry was issued. Three companies were awarded contracts to develop
operational "Glomb" aircraft, the contracts being given to Pratt-Read, Piper
Aircraft, and Taylorcraft. The Taylorcraft design, designated LBT-1 by the Navy,
was based on the company's LNT-1 training glider; two XLNT-1s, converted to
remote control, had been tested as part of initial Glomb trials. The LBT-1
featured a high, strut-braced wing and tricycle landing gear; the aircraft was
designed to carry a 2,000 pounds (910 kg) bomb as a warhead. In addition to its
TV-and-radio remote guidance system, the LBT-1 retained a cockpit, allowing a
pilot on board to fly the aircraft on training and evalulation flights.


Role
Glider bomb

Manufacturer
Taylorcraft

First flight
April 1944

Primary user
United States Navy

Number built
25

The LBT-1 began evaluation by the Navy in April 1944. The Navy's contract called
for the production of 100 of each type of Glomb; however, by October 1944,
trials were beginning to indicate that the low expected performance of the
glider bomb was a liability, and the Piper LBP-1 and LBE-1 were considered
superior. Accordingly the LBT contract was cancelled; only 25 examples of the
type were constructed, none of which would see any operational service.

Specifications (LBT-1)

General characteristics

Crew: One (optional)
Length: 25 ft 2 in (7.67 m)
Wingspan: 35 ft (11 m)
Wing area: 181 sq ft (16.8 m2)
Gross weight: 3,930 lb (1,783 kg)

Performance
Maximum speed: 314 mph (505 km/h; 273 kn) in dive
Cruise speed: 240 mph (386 km/h; 209 kn) tow speed

Armament

Bombs: 2,000 pounds (910 kg)



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