Schweizer SGM 2-37.html |
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| SGM 2-37 | |
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| USAFA TG-7A | |
| Role | Motor glider |
| National origin | USA |
| Manufacturer | Schweizer Aircraft Corporation |
| Designed by | Leslie Schweizer1 |
| First flight | 1982 |
| Introduction | 1982 |
| Retired | USAF service: April 20032 Still in civil use |
| Primary user | United States Air Force Academy - 9 |
| Produced | 1982-1988 |
| Number built | 121 |
| Unit cost | USD$70,000 (1983 base price) |
| Developed from | Schweizer SGS 1-36 and 2-32 |
The Schweizer SGM 2-37 is a two-place, side-by-side, fixed gear, low wing, motorized glider.13
A total of twelve were produced between 1982 and 1988, including nine for the the United States Air Force Academy, which designated it the TG-7A. The TG-7A was retired from USAFA service in April 2003.124
The basic airframe was later developed into the SA 2-37A and B covert surveillance aircraft.5
Contents |
Background
Schweizer had flown a Schweizer SGU 1-19 as a motor glider in 1946 without putting the design into production. 6
Later the company carried out a design study of a motorglider designated as the Schweizer 1-30, but no examples were built. A single motorglider prototype, the Schweizer 2-31 was completed, but no further motorgliders were built by the company until 1982.789
Development
The SGM 2-37 was designed at the request of the USAF for use at USAFA, in both the powered and glider trainer role.3
To save both money and development time the aircraft used a number of existing aircraft components:
- Nose, cowling and engine installation adapted from the Piper PA-38 Tomahawk2
- Wings adapted from the Schweizer SGS 1-36 Sprite, including extensions to bring it from the Sprite's 46.2 feet to 59.5 feet and leading edge cuffs to improve stall characteristics2
- Tail from the Schweizer SGS 2-322
The design was intended to be available as a civil aircraft as well as a military aircraft. The USAF version was delivered with a Lycoming O-235-L2C 4 cylinder aircraft engine of 112 hp. The civil version offered the same engine or an option of a Lycoming O-320 of 150 hp or a Lycoming O-360 of 180 hp.23
The aircraft is of all metal aluminum monocoque construction. The engine cowling is made from fiberglass and plastics are employed in some of the nonstructural components.2
The 2-37 features a 27 cu ft baggage compartment behind the side-by-side seating. The aircraft does not have flaps, but instead has top-and-bottom wing-mounted balanced divebrakes, similar to other Schweizer glider designs.3
Performance includes a cruise speed of 114 mph while burning 4 US gal per hour with the O-235 engine. The 17.9 aspect ratio wing provides a glide ratio of 29:1 and a minimum sink speed of 3.16 feet/sec (0.96 m/s).13
Certification
The SGM 2-37 was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration under type certificate G1NE on March 22, 1983.10
The 2-37 type certificate is currently held by K & L Soaring of Cayuta, New York. K & L Soaring now provides all parts and support for the Schweizer line of sailplanes.1011
Variants
- SA 2-37A
- The SA 2-37A is a two seat special mission surveillance aircraft built for the Central Intelligence Agency and US Army and equipped with a Lycoming O-540-B powerplant of 235hp (175kW) and first flown in 1982 and eight.12. The US aircraft register records six SA-2-37As, including four belonging to Vantage Aircraft Leasing with serial numbers as high as 8. All are in the experimental exhibition category.13.
- SA 2-37B
- The SA 2-7B is a development of the 2-37A equipped with a Lycoming TIO-540-AB1AD powerplant of 250 hp. The aircraft is optimized for covert surveillance missions and carries FLIR and electronic sensors. It has a 500 pound (231 kg) sensor payload in a 70 cubic foot fuselage bay. With a fuel capacity of 99 Gallons (374.8 litres) it can remain on station for up to 12 hours. Gross weight is 4300 lbs (1950 kg).5 The US aircraft registry records four SA 2-37Bs, all owned by Schweizer Aircraft. All are in the experimental Research and Development category.14
- TG-7A
- United States Air Force designation for the SGM 2-37.
- RG-8A
- In US Coast Guard service the SA 2-37 is designated RG-8A, indicating Glider, Reconnaissance.15
Marketing
The SGS 2-37 was marketed by the company as being suitable for the following roles:3
- Sailplane trainer
- Powered aircraft trainer
- Glider towplane (with larger horsepower engine option)
- Private touring aircraft
- Surveillance
- Aerial Inspection
Reception
Soaring, the journal of the Soaring Society of America, described the SGM 2-37 as:
| “ | Very versatile, very promising, very expensive3 | ” |
The publication's review noted that the USD$70,000 base price did not include a feathering propeller, gyro instruments, wheel fairings, long range fuel tanks or other optional extras.3
In use
There were nine aircraft still registered in the USA in April 2008. Current owners include the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum and designer Leslie E. Schweizer.16
Operators
Specifications (SGM 2-37)
Data from Sailplane Directory1, USAFA2, Soaring magazine November, 19833 & FAA Aircraft Type Certificate G1NE10
General characteristics
- Crew: two in side-by-side seating
- Length: 27 ft 6 in (8.5 m)
- Wingspan: 56 ft 6 in (18.14 m)
- Height: 7 ft 8 in (2.4 m)
- Wing area: 195.7 ft² (18.18 m²)
- Airfoil: Wortmann Fx 61-163
- Empty weight: 1200 lb (544 kg)
- Loaded weight: 1850 lb (839 kg)
- Useful load: 650 lb (295 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 1850 lb (839 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Lycoming O-235-L2C aluminum fixed pitch, 112 hp (84 kW)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 135 mph (219 km/h)
- Maximum speed: 135 mph (181 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 112 mph (181 km/h)
- Stall speed: 48 mph with divebrakes closed (78 km/h)
- Range: 230 mi (372 km)
- Service ceiling 14,000 ft (4300 m)
- Rate of climb: ft/min (m/s)
- Wing loading: 9.45 lb/ft² (46.15 kg/m²)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Activate Media (2006). "SGS 2-37 Schweizer". Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- ^ a b c d e f g h United States Air Force Academy (May 2008). "TG-7A". Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 131. Soaring Society of America, November 1983. USPS 499-920
- ^ Federal Aviation Administration (June 2008). "FAA Registry". Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- ^ a b Schweizer Aircraft Corp (2006). "Reconnaissance Aircraft: SA 2-37B". Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- ^ Schweizer, Paul A: Wings Like Eagles, The Story of Soaring in the United States, page 120. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1988. ISBN 0-87474-828-3
- ^ Smithsonian Institution (2004). "Directory of Airplanes". Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
- ^ Federal Aviation Administration (May 2008). "FAA Registry Make/Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
- ^ Savetz Publishing (2008). "SCHWEIZER 2-31 Profile". Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
- ^ a b c Federal Aviation Administration (September 2007). "TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET NO. G1NE". Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
- ^ K & L Soaring (undated). "K & L Soaring, LLC". Retrieved on 2008-04-05.
- ^ World Aircraft Directory (undated). "Schweizer SA 2-37A". Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- ^ Federal Aviation Administration (June 2008). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
- ^ Federal Aviation Administration (June 2008). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
- ^ Stoll, Alex (September 2001). "Schweizer RU-38A Twin Condor". Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
- ^ Federal Aviation Administration (April 2008). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved on 2008-04-29.
- ^ unknown photographer (undated). "Photo of SA 2-37 in Columbian Air Force markings". Retrieved on 2008-11-08.
External links
- Photo of a USAFA TG-7A (SGM 2-37) motor glider
- Photo of a USAFA TG-7A (SGM 2-37) motor glider
- Photo of SA 2-37A reconnaissance aircraft
- Photo of SA 2-37B reconnaissance aircraft
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