G 109 motor glider history

[Bill Kyle]

I'm in the middle of restoring a 109 and on it we found a marking on the iner cowling with a magic marker saying USAF. This brought up It might have been used at the Acadamey or in a USAF flying club. Does anyone out there know of this and also what colors would it have?

Bill Kyle Minden Nv.

[Bill Kyle]

I'm in the middle of restoring a 109 and on it we found a marking on the iner cowling with a magic marker saying USAF. This brought up It might have been used at the Acadamey or in a USAF flying club. Does anyone out there know of this and also what colors would it have?

Bill Kyle Minden Nv.

[Richard Pearl]

Bill, as far as I know the USAFA only used the SGM 2-37 motor glider for training. The aircraft was also used as a Recon a/c during Vietnam. There might have been a USAF flying club using it, but I've never heard of it.

The British used the Grob 109B (Valiant) as a trainer

[Richard Pearl]

Bill, as far as I know the USAFA only used the SGM 2-37 motor glider for training. The aircraft was also used as a Recon a/c during Vietnam. There might have been a USAF flying club using it, but I've never heard of it.

The British used the Grob 109B (Valiant) as a trainer

[Thermalseeker]

The USAFA also used Ximangos for several years. They were designated the TG-14. My Ximango is set up like a TG-14 with the P-1 seat on the right side and it had Air Force markings on it when I bought it, although it was never in the USAFA inventory. When the USAFA decided to replace their Ximangos three or four years ago the TG-14's were divvied out to CAP units and a few Sheriff's Departments around the country. I know of 3 in Alabama that are currently in Sheriff Department inventories. Unfortunately, one of them was destroyed in a wind storm a few weeks ago when a hangar fell in on it. I was sent pictures of the aftermath and best I can tell it is repairable, but I was also told that it was not insured. So, I suspect it will be scrapped. I've been making inquiries into possibly buying it for parts, but so far no word on availability. The late Jim McCann (who brokered the deal for the USAFA Ximangos) told me that 4 of the USAFA TG-14 Ximangos went to Edwards AFB for "research". Jim also informed me that the reason they were getting rid of the Ximangos was because their instructors were having too many "runway excursions". My understanding is the USAFA is adopting the Diamond DA40 as a primary trainer.

[Thermalseeker]

The USAFA also used Ximangos for several years. They were designated the TG-14. My Ximango is set up like a TG-14 with the P-1 seat on the right side and it had Air Force markings on it when I bought it, although it was never in the USAFA inventory. When the USAFA decided to replace their Ximangos three or four years ago the TG-14's were divvied out to CAP units and a few Sheriff's Departments around the country. I know of 3 in Alabama that are currently in Sheriff Department inventories. Unfortunately, one of them was destroyed in a wind storm a few weeks ago when a hangar fell in on it. I was sent pictures of the aftermath and best I can tell it is repairable, but I was also told that it was not insured. So, I suspect it will be scrapped. I've been making inquiries into possibly buying it for parts, but so far no word on availability. The late Jim McCann (who brokered the deal for the USAFA Ximangos) told me that 4 of the USAFA TG-14 Ximangos went to Edwards AFB for "research". Jim also informed me that the reason they were getting rid of the Ximangos was because their instructors were having too many "runway excursions". My understanding is the USAFA is adopting the Diamond DA40 as a primary trainer.