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Waco CG-4

first flew 1942· military glider

🎖️ military retired
10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
  1. 1. Waco CG-4A USAF: USAAF· Public domain
  2. 2. CG-4A AAFNo50-17 page50: US Government· Public domain
  3. 3. Waco CG-4A USAF: USAF· Public domain
  4. 4. Airspeed Horsa and Waco CG-4 gliders on a field in Germany during Operation Varsity, 24 March 1945 (342-FH-3A20136-56783AC): U.S. Army Air Forces photo 342-FH-3A20136-56783AC· Public domain
  5. 5. American Aircraft in Royal Air Force Service 1939-1945- Waco Model Cg-4 Hadrian. E(MOS)1235: Royal Air Force official photographer· Public domain
  6. 6. C-47s and CG-4s for Op Varsity 1945: USAF· Public domain
  7. 7. Douglas C-47 of the 437th TCG tows two Waco CG-4A gliders at A-58 Coulommiers, 24 March 1945 (111-ADC-3668): U.S. Army Signal Corps film 111-ADC-3668· Public domain
  8. 8. Laurinburg-Maxton Army Air Base Airborne Troops Exiting CG-4 Glider: United States Army Air Forces· Public domain
  9. 9. Laurinburg-Maxton Army Air Base CG-4 Glider Landing: United States Army Air Forces· Public domain
  10. 10. Laurinburg-Maxton Army Air Base CG-4 Glider ready for snatch pickup by C-47: United States Army Air Forces· Public domain
Read about it on Wikipedia ↗
Waco CG-4, photo 1 of 10
1/10 USAAF· Public domain

what is it?

The Waco CG-4 was the most widely used American troop/cargo military glider of World War II. It was designated the CG-4A by the United States Army Air Forces, and given the service name Hadrian (after the Roman emperor) by the British. The glider was designed by the Waco Aircraft Company. Flight testing began in May 1942.

base stats

  • speed 240 km/htop speed
  • seats 13passengers
  • size 3,402 kgmax take-off weight
  • built 13,903made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

  • First flew 84 years ago, in 1942.
  • Top speed is 1.8× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
  • Wingspan of 25.5 m: about 6 cars parked nose to tail.

spec sheet

first flight
1942
introduced
1942
retired
1950
status
retired
number built
13,903
role
military glider
makers
Waco
engines
—
passengers
13
length
14.8 m
wingspan
25.5 m
height
4.7 m
max take-off weight
3,402 kg
top speed
240 km/h
cruise speed
117 km/h
range
—

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q1752671, Wikipedia: Waco CG-4 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.

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