General Aircraft Hamilcar
General Aircraft Limited · United Kingdom · first flew 1942 · glider
The General Aircraft Hamilcar was a large British military glider of World War II, capable of carrying a Tetrarch light tank or other heavy equipment. It was the largest British glider to see operational service during the war.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 20.73 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- Unpowered sailplane — no engine (glider variant); powered version has two radial engines
- Largest British WWII glider — designed to carry tanks and heavy vehicles
- Hinged nose opens upward to load armoured vehicles directly
Very large high-wing glider or aircraft with a broad rectangular-section fuselage, upward-hinged nose for vehicle loading, and straight high-aspect-ratio wings.
Specifications
- The General Aircraft Hamilcar has a length of 20.73 m (68 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 33.53 m (110 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 241 km/h (150 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed to meet a 1940 requirement for a heavy glider to support airborne operations, the Hamilcar entered service in 1942 and was used operationally in the invasion of Normandy (D-Day, June 1944), Operation Market Garden, and the Rhine crossings in March 1945. It could accommodate a 7-tonne Tetrarch tank or a Bren gun carrier with a crew. A small number were completed as powered Hamilcar X aircraft with Bristol Mercury engines.
Variants
The standard Hamilcar Mk I was an unpowered glider; the Hamilcar X (Mk X) was a powered version with two Bristol Mercury radial engines fitted to the wings to allow self-ferrying.
Where you'll see it
Served with the RAF's Glider Pilot Regiment during the major British airborne operations of 1944–1945 in northwest Europe.
Related aircraft
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