The General Aircraft GAL 48 Hotspur I was an eight-seat troop carrying glider of all wood construction designed to Air Ministry Specification X.10/40 and built by General Aircraft and Slingsby Sailplanes in 1941.
The prototype first flew in 1941.
The General Aircraft Hotspur 8 seat assault training glider was first intended to be released at 20,000ft for long gliding missions, but 16ft was lopped off the span and it was used for training as the Hotspur 2.
The GAL.48 Hotspur 2 were built by Harris Lebus and other sub-contractors, in 1941.
The GAL.48 Hotspur 3 were Hotspur 2 fitted with dual controls.
The GAL.48B Twin Hotspur was a sixteen-seat troop transport glider built by General Aircraft Ltd in 1942. It was two Hotspur 2 fuselages joined together with a short centre wing. The first flight of the prototype was in August 1942. It was flown from the port fuselage, there being no controls in the starboard cockpit.
General Aircraft GAL 48 Hotspur
Training glider, United Kingdom, 1940
Length: 39.304 ft / 11.98 m
Height: 10.827 ft / 3.3 m
Wing span: 61.909 ft / 18.87 m
Wing area: 272.006 sq.ft / 25.27 sq.m
Max take off weight: 3598.6 lb / 1632.0 kg
Weight empty: 1660.4 lb / 753.0 kg
Max. speed: 113 kts / 209 kph
Landing speed: 49 kts / 90 kph
Cruising speed: 78 kts / 145 kph
Cruising altitude: 20013 ft / 6100 m
Wing loading: 13.33 lb/sq.ft / 65.0 kg/sq.m
Range: 72 nm / 134 km
Crew: 8
GAL 48 Hotspur 2
Wing span: 13.99 m / 45 ft 10.75 in
Length: 11.98 m / 39 ft 3.5 in
Wing area: 25.04 sq.m / 272 sq.ft
Aspect ratio: 7.7
Empty weight: 753.4 kg / 1661 lb
AUW: 1632 kg / 3598 lb
Wing loading: 71.77 kg/sq.m / 14.7 lb/sq.ft
Max speed: 273 kph / 170 mph
Normal glide: 129 kph / 80 mph
GAL.48B Twin Hotspur
Wingspan: 17.65 m / 57 ft 11 in
Length: 11.98 m / 39 ft 3.5 in
Wing area: 33.9 sq.m / 365 sq.ft
Aspect ratio: 9.25
Empty weight: 1456 kg / 3210 lb
AUW: 2925.7 kg / 6450 lb
Max speed: 249 kph / 155 mph
Stall: 105 kph / 65 mph
All Aero 