EAA Experimenter 31
Three of these airframes were later transferred to the Navy,
designated as LNR-1. Aeronca had proved Charles Stanton's
training glider concept. Taylorcraft's TG -6 and Piper's TG -8
followed shortly.
REBIRTH OF THE NINE-DAY WONDER
I love all things Aeronca, and I own several Aeronca aircraft,
including a 1930 C-2N. I have been gathering TG -5 glider
parts for more than 20 years. I first saw a picture of Ed
Burns sitting in the prototype nose section and knew I had to
find one. To date, the nose assembly has been the last major
portion of the airframe to elude me. I keep thinking I'll see
one hanging on the wall in some little bar outside Yuma, Ari-
zona, but I haven't yet. However, I have been successful in
finding some parts. I've received calls that someone in Spo-
kane found some spoilers that were on a set of wings they
put on an L-3 decades ago. And I was looking at pictures of
a friend's project and found a rear instrument panel in his
parts pile, so I know needed parts are still out there.
Pictures and technical support have come from visits
with John Houser, a former Aeronca engineer. Drawings are
available from the National Aeronca Association. Magellan
Aerospace, formerly Aeronca Inc., has also provided support.
Guidance and encouragement also comes from my mentor,
Tom Murphy, who restored the flying TG -6 prototype.
I'm currently working to complete two flying TG -5 air-
frames. The first may fly in 2014. I look at it and think since
The TG-5 airframe getting a new nose.
The production TG-5 in fl ight.
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