History

The Bowlus XCG-7 was an attempt by the respected American glider designer and manufacturer to make military gliders.

When tested in 1942, the XCG-7 did not meet expectations and work on it was abandoned.

Hawley Bolus was an American designer, engineer and aircraft maker who specialised in gliders. He forged a close association with Charles Lindberg after supervising construction of the Ryan NYP and Lindberg and his wife subsequently made many record setting flights in Bowlus gliders.

Bowlus Sailplanes was awarded a contract for the CG-7 which could carry up to eight paratroopers and a larger CG-8 which could carry up to fifteen.

The prototype XCG-7 made its first flight on 10 February 1942 but it did not meet expectations and was considered structurally unsound.

Despite active assistance from Douglas the project could not be saved and was abandoned. The same thing happened to the XCG-8.

This model represents the only Bowlus XCG-7 in early 1942.

Anigrand 1/144 kit Completed by Leigh Edmonds in February 2018.

Data

MODEL: Bowlus XCG-7

ROLE: experimental cargo glider

TIME PERIOD: 1942

WING SPAN: 24.38m

LENGTH: 10.97m

MAXIMUM TAKE OFF WEIGHT: 3,175kg

CRUISING SPEED: 190km/h

PAYLOAD: 7 fully equipped troops

CREW: 2

SCALE: 1/144

KIT:

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