Assault Glider Trust
Encyclopedia
The Assault Glider Trust is a registered charity established in 2001 and based at RAF Shawbury
in Shropshire
.
The trust was formed by veterans of the Glider Pilot Regiment
Association. Current project of the trust are: is to convert a Dakota
to its original parachute
and glider tug function, along with restoring or building an Airspeed Horsa
, an American CG-4A Waco and a De Havilland Tiger Moth
.
In 2001, RAF Shawbury offered a home for the construction of the aircraft. BAE Systems
found the original working drawings for a Horsa glider and allowed these to be used for the project under the condition that any aircraft produced would not be flown.
RAF Shawbury
RAF Shawbury is a Royal Air Force station by the village of Shawbury near Shrewsbury, Shropshire.The station at Shawbury was first used for military flying training in 1917 by the Royal Flying Corps, but it was returned to agricultural use in 1920. In 1938 it was reactivated as a training...
in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
.
The trust was formed by veterans of the Glider Pilot Regiment
Glider Pilot Regiment
The Glider Pilot Regiment was a British airborne forces unit of the Second World War which was responsible for crewing the British Army's military gliders and saw action in the European Theatre of World War II in support of Allied airborne operations...
Association. Current project of the trust are: is to convert a Dakota
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
to its original parachute
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
and glider tug function, along with restoring or building an Airspeed Horsa
Airspeed Horsa
The Airspeed AS.51 Horsa was a British World War II troop-carrying glider built by Airspeed Limited and subcontractors and used for air assault by British and Allied armed forces...
, an American CG-4A Waco and a De Havilland Tiger Moth
De Havilland Tiger Moth
The de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft...
.
In 2001, RAF Shawbury offered a home for the construction of the aircraft. BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
found the original working drawings for a Horsa glider and allowed these to be used for the project under the condition that any aircraft produced would not be flown.