General Aircraft G.A.L. 48 Hotspur Mk.II

01/31/2012. The G.A.L. 48 Hotspur Mk.I first flew in November 1940 and was produced to meet Spec. 10/40, which called for an assault glider able to glide 100 mls (161 km) from release at 20,000 ft (6,096 m). The Hotspur in fact was only able to glide 83 mls (134 km) from 20,000 ft when carrying a pilot and seven troops. In the event, it was never used operationally, but became the standard training glider throughout WorId War II.

In its training version the Hotspur was designated Mk.II (to Spec. X. 22/40) and differed from the Mk.I in having the wing span reduced 16 ft (4.88 m), modified flaps and ailerons, dual control for two pilots in tandem, revised entrance door and cockpit canopy. The loaded weight increased 148 lb (67 kg). Final version was the Hotspur Mk.III, which had an externally braced tail assembly, fifty were converted from Mk.IIs.

A total of 1,015 Hotspurs were produced, 18 Mk.Is were produced: 10 by General Aircraft and 8 by Slingsby, while 997 Mk.IIs were constructed: 1 by Airspeed and 996 by a production group managed by the furniture manufacturers Harris Lebus. The production group included Mulliners, Waring & Gillow, and William Lawrence & Co.