AIRCRAFT
Sailplanes
Schweizer is perhaps known
best for its popular line of
gliders (sailplanes), the
earliest of which (the model
SGP 1-1) was produced in
1930. Although very few of
the early gliders were
built, later models gained
popularity, such as the SGS
2-8 and 2-12, which were
adopted by the U.S. Army Air
Corps for training as the
TG-2 and TG-3, respectively.
The Schweizer SGS 1-23 was a
world class competition and
record setting glider
between its first flight in
1948 and the end of its
production in 1967.
In
the 1950s and 60s the
Schweizer Aircraft
Corporation designed and
manufactured the very
popular SGS 1-26 and SGS
2-33 gliders. They are easy
to fly, with simple
construction, and are quite
rugged and forgiving. A
powered light aircraft, the
Schweizer SA 1-30 was
tested, but did not go into
production.
The 2-33 was adopted by the
United States Air Force
Academy as the TG-4, for use
in introductory airmanship
training.
The Academy used over a
dozen such gliders until
2002 when they were replaced
by more modern sailplanes.
The Royal Canadian Air
Cadets continue to operate a
fleet of over seventy
2-33As.
Other popular Schweizer
gliders include the
single-seat SGS 1-26 and the
two or three-seat 2-32, both
of which can be found in
many soaring clubs and in
private ownership across the
United States.
Helicopters
Schweizer primarily produces
light, piston-engined
helicopters for use in
utility and flight-training
roles. The Schweizer 300CBi,
originally designed and
manufactured by Hughes
aircraft as the Hughes 269
for the United States Army,
is one of the most
widely-used training
helicopters in the world.
In 1986, Schweizer acquired
all rights to the helicopter
from McDonnell Douglas, who
had purchased Hughes
Helicopters in 1984. After
Schweizer acquired the FAA
Type Certificate, the
helicopter was known for a
short time as the
Schweizer-Hughes 300C and
then simply, the Schweizer
300C.
The
basic design remained
unchanged over the years.
Between Hughes and
Schweizer, nearly 3,000
copies of the Model 269/300
have been built and flown
over the last 50 years.
Schweizer continued to
develop the Model 300 by
adding a turbine and
redesigning the body to
create the Schweizer 330,
and then further
developments led to the
development of the Schweizer
333.
An improved version in the
series, the Sikorsky S-434,
was released in 2008.
Ag-Cat
Schweizer produced the
Grumman G-164 Ag Cat, a
single-engine biplane
agricultural aircraft
originally developed by
Grumman in the 1950s.
Under the contract with
Grumman the airplane was
built almost continuously
between 1957 and 1981.
During this period of time
Schweizer built 2,455 of the
airplanes.
In 1981 Schweizer bought the
rights to the design and
continued production under
the name Schweizer Ag Cat.
In 1995 Schweizer sold the
rights to the Ag Cat to
Ag-Cat Corp. of Malden,
Texas. In February 2001 the
design was sold to Allied
Ag-Cat Productions Inc. of
Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.
Allied Ag-Cat is not
producing new aircraft
although a related company
operates a large fleet of
Ag-Cats.
The basic airframe
incorporates many safety
innovations, including a
pressurized cockpit to keep
pesticides out, air
conditioning and a fuselage
structure that is designed
to progressively collapse in
the event of a collision.
Reconnaissance
Aircraft
The development of the
Schweizer SGM 2-37 two-place
motor glider for the United
States Air Force Academy in
1982 led to a new area of
expertise for the company.
In the mid-1960s Lockheed
had used the Schweizer SGS
2-32 sailplane as the basis
for its YO-3 quiet
reconnaissance aircraft.
Schweizer decided to develop
the SGM 2-37 into a similar
concept aircraft as the
YO-3. The result was the SA
2-37A and B, known as the
RG-8A in military use.
The RG-8A was later
developed by the company
into the twin piston-engined
and twin-boom SA 2-38 Condor
with the US military
designation of RU-38A Twin
Condor. This design was
further refined into the
turboprop-powered RU-38B
Twin Condor. The RU-38 was
still in production in 2008.
It is believed the US Drug
Enforcement Administration
purchased aircraft
designated Shadowhawk from
Schweizer. The aircraft had
a poor operational history.
They may be designated SA
38B.
Source:
Wikipedia
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