Cornelius XFG-1
Cornelius Aircraft · United States · first flew 1944 · glider
The Cornelius XFG-1 was an American experimental fuel-carrying glider of 1944, one of the few forward-swept-wing aircraft of the era and designed to be towed at high speed to deliver aviation fuel to forward airfields.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Carried 677 US gallons of aviation fuel in fuselage tanks |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unpowered sailplane — no engine
- Forward-swept wing fuel tanker glider; tailless with elevons only
- Carried 677 US gallons of aviation fuel in fuselage tanks
Highly unusual for its forward-swept wing combined with a tailless elevon-only control layout. The narrow fuselage and absence of a conventional tail empennage make it immediately distinctive among WWII-era gliders.
Specifications
- The Cornelius XFG-1 has a length of 8.92 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.46 m (54 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Two prototypes were constructed, and the XFG-1 was designed to be towed at up to 250 mph while carrying 677 US gallons of avgas in fuselage tanks. One prototype was lost in an irrecoverable spin, killing the pilot, and the programme was cancelled in 1945 before production could be considered.
Variants
Two prototypes; no production variants.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service; programme cancelled after prototype loss.
Related aircraft
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