Bristol XLRQ-1: American Amphibian Glider in View

A U.S. Navy XLRQ-1 glider at the Bristol Aeronautical Corporation in Bristol, Connecticut, 1942. Glider assault was not tactically feasible against small, heavily defended islands in the Pacific, not enough gliders were arriving from factories and too many pilots were being assigned to the glider program. Therefore the program was scrapped in 1943. Although the U.S. Navy ordered four XLRQ-1 prototypes, only two were built (BuNos 11561 and 11562). The glider had a retractable landing gear and the wing roots provided lateral stability on the water.

A U.S. Navy XLRQ-1 glider at the Bristol Aeronautical Corporation in Bristol, Connecticut, 1942.

A U.S. Navy XLRQ-1 glider at the Bristol Aeronautical Corporation in Bristol, Connecticut, 1942.

An amphibian glider known as the Bristol XLRQ-1 underwent successful flight tests at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. XLRQ-1 was a 12-seat amphibious glider of the Bristol Aeronautical Corporation, New Haven, Connecticut, developed for the United States Marine Corps in 1942-43. Only two prototypes were built before the USMC scrapped the idea of glider use in 1943.

Taken off the Delaware River by a Catalina flying boat, the XLRQ-1 glider circled the yard twice and then returned to the river. Made chiefly of non-critical materials, the 40-foot glider was designed to carry 12 fully equipped Marines.

A Consolidated PBY Catalina towing the Bristol XLRQ-1 on the Delaware River during flight testing. 1943.

A U.S. Navy XLRQ-1 glider at the Bristol Aeronautical Corporation in Bristol, Connecticut, 1942. Note the Martin JM-1 Marauders in the background.

A U.S. Navy XLRQ-1 glider at the Bristol Aeronautical Corporation in Bristol, Connecticut, 1942.

A U.S. Navy XLRQ-1 glider at the Bristol Aeronautical Corporation in Bristol, Connecticut, 1942. Note the Martin JM-1 Marauders in the background.