Piper TG-8
Piper Aircraft · United States · first flew 1941 · glider
The Piper TG-8 was a military training glider developed from the Piper J-3 Cub for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was used to introduce student pilots to unpowered flight before transitioning to larger assault gliders.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.86 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- Unpowered sailplane — no engine
- USAAF training glider derived from Piper J-3 Cub
- Tandem two-seat military glider of World War II
Virtually identical in outline to the Piper J-3 Cub — a high-wing strut-braced monoplane with tandem seats — but identifiable by the absence of an engine and propeller at the nose.
Specifications
- The Piper TG-8 has a length of 6.86 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.73 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 161 km/h (100 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed in 1941 to fulfil a USAAF requirement for a simple training glider, the TG-8 was essentially a J-3 Cub airframe with the engine removed and a two-seat tandem cockpit optimised for glider instruction. Production was modest as the USAAF rapidly scaled up its glider training programme.
Variants
The TG-8 is sometimes listed as the NE-1 Cub Coupe derivative; it was closely related to but distinct from the standard J-3 Cub powerplant configuration.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the USAAF at glider training schools across the United States during World War II to build pilot proficiency ahead of conversion to Waco CG-4A assault gliders.
Related aircraft
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