general aircraft general aircraft military designed built british company general aircraft ltd world war british airborne establishment formed order prime minister winston_churchill decided transport airborne troops battle general aircraft ltd given contract june design produce initial use airborne establishment resulted conceived assault necessitated compact design troops carried tactical philosophy soon favoured larger numbers troops sent battle aboard mainly relegated training basic trainer schools formed named sir significant captain anglo scottish wars known development operational requirements german military pioneered airborne formations conducting successful airborne operations including impressed success german airborne operations allied governments decided form airborne formations decision eventually lead creation british airborne divisions number smaller units british airborne establishment began development june prime minister winston_churchill directed memorandum investigate possibility creating corps parachute troops equipment airborne forces development officials decided integral component transport troops heavy equipment june formed airfield near manchester tasked primarily training parachute troops directed investigate transport troops battle decided royal_air_force army cooperate forming airborne establishment squadron leader major rock tasked gathering potential pilots forming unit achieved searching members armed forces pre war experience flying interested learning officers newly formed unit provided obsolete bombers small number purposes unit process formed june contracted general aircraft ltd design produce initial type use airborne establishment assault training purposes capable transporting airborne troops capable long approach landing prevailing belief time released considerable distance target ensure sound aircraft alert enemy stable cheap easy construct intended operational range miles released high altitude practice reduced miles released height feet design primarily designed team leader specification similar design german assault battle netherlands prototype designated receive service flew november months given requirement initial order placed september nearly months prototype flew mark constructed wood designed accommodate fully armed airborne troops wingspan feet feet inches length load approximately pounds weighed approximately pounds distinguished variants addition cabin fuselage hooks nose tail allow multiple towed pilots later pilot instructor training sat tandem cockpit unusual fuselage functioned like lid landed troops inside throw half fuselage climb lower half like leaving small boat total produced gal operational arrived february april delivered august trials began february bomber development initial produced problems design uncovered primary carry sufficient troops designed transport airborne troops cargo pounds found inadequate believed airborne troops landed groups far larger number aircraft required tow needed land larger groups concerns towed tandem operationally extremely difficult nighttime cloud formations disappointing ratio contributing factor assault concept limitations inherent design decision continue development types including tank carrying remained production primarily training aircraft stop gap case programmes failed variants original created heavily modified specification redesigned partially address changes operational requirements bolster ground handling initial series aircraft operations releasing long distance away allowing gently ground decided aircraft approach landing zone release requiring robust wings shown considerable type proved difficult handle ground order reduce stresses airframe fuselage strengthened wings shortened resulting wingspan feet inches tips square cut moved end wings position maintaining original wood construction overall fuselage dimensions incorporated modified fuselage included altering cockpit enclosure deeper canopy instead lid pilots boarded canopy doors added troops enter depart seating arranged braking parachute added rear dimensions remained length feet inches gross weight approximately pounds airborne troops pounds equipment total early production modified trainers adding dual controls instruments student pilot externally variant twin progress past prototype phase twin attempt create capable carrying airborne troops interim production reached sufficient levels created connecting constant chord centre wing section feet length constant chord pilots sat tandem style port fuselage august sole twin prototype underwent testing towed armstrong project abandoned production begin primarily flight characteristics criticised pilots production production ended early total produced primary sub contractor responsible parent company produced single prototype sub contractor involved production completed operational history changing operational requirements combat operations instead exclusively training purposes pilots belonging received initial instruction relatively heavy high sink rate exhibited good flying characteristics flown allowing pilots quickly gain proficiency pilots named pilots trained elementary flying training school tiger converting training schools iii employed dual instruction rear seats weighted ballast instructor student aboard usually towed later miles master training dual instruction flights usually preceded student solo flight operational training schools flights troops instead ballast release high altitudes night flying training total retained operational use required rest training sent canada eventually united_states_navy build operation overlord early scheme considered transport cargo equipment canadian fighter squadron squadron selected trials intention enable faster fighter squadrons carry spare pilots ground crew essential supplies squadron operated modified tow means tow point attached tail wheel pilots trained fly including fighter ace found reasonably effective engines prone maximum tow speed miles hour comparatively slow despite scheme judged practical saw operational use war end type retired relatively preserved display variants single prototype production run aircraft series modified reduced wingspan new seating arrangement deeper cockpit canopy doors braking parachute fuselage strengthened series dual controls instruments external standard outer wing panels joined common centre section single prototype variant enter series production operators united_kingdom british army royal air force canada survivors mark replica display hampshire england fuselage preserved prior museum closing anticipation specifications data world war general characteristics crew capacity troops length wingspan height wing area weight max takeoff weight performance maximum speed mph landing speed mph range miles release release wing loading
General Aircraft Hotspur