The GAL Hamilcar Heavy Glider
Britain's biggest ever glider, initially designated GAL49, the new glider was soon known as the Hamilcar (a famous Carthaginian general and father of Hannibal, the terror of Rome).
412 Hamilcars were built during the War. Only a foot (0.3m) longer than the infantry carrying Horsa glider, it had a mighty wingspan of 110 feet (33.5m) and, fully laden, weighed in at 36,000 lbs (16329kg). The photograph below compares Hamilcar dimensions with those of a Lancaster bomber.
The pilots sat in tandem some 25 feet (7.5m) above the ground. Passengers were rarely carried, but a total of forty troops could be accommodated in the barn-like cargo area. The glider's main load was the Tetrarch light tank or tractor with 17 pdr anti-tank gun.
412 Hamilcars were built during the War. Only a foot (0.3m) longer than the infantry carrying Horsa glider, it had a mighty wingspan of 110 feet (33.5m) and, fully laden, weighed in at 36,000 lbs (16329kg). The photograph below compares Hamilcar dimensions with those of a Lancaster bomber.
The pilots sat in tandem some 25 feet (7.5m) above the ground. Passengers were rarely carried, but a total of forty troops could be accommodated in the barn-like cargo area. The glider's main load was the Tetrarch light tank or tractor with 17 pdr anti-tank gun.
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