aeronut said:
The 'New Medium Glider' concept from GAL as a replacement for the Horsa.
I can't help thinking that shared some ideas with the Universal Freighter/Beverley
Nice find.
You may be right about this 'New Medium Glider' leading to the Universal Freighter. But according to Air International (41-5, Nov 1991), the GAL.60 concept descends from the Mercury 31-powered Hamilcar Mk X conversions rather than a Horsa replacement.
The original idea behind the GAL.60 was for a tactical transport able to "delivery men and supplies right into the forward combat area". Specifically, it was to "operate into and out of short, unprepared landing strips". Obviously, GAF was planning a powered aircraft from the outset.
Perhaps the 'New Medium Glider' and GAL.60 simple share a common parentage. In the latter case, other layouts were actively considered at first. -- including twin-boomed and variations with a detachable pod (with its own tracked u/c for low air drops -- also see pilot's notes below). Only later, with the 'pod' now permanently attached, did the GAL.60 strongly resemble the 'New Medium Glider'.
BTW, the earlier version of what became the GAL.60 was to have 4 x Merlin 90s. by Hercules (as per GAL.60) and an enlarged version was to be Centaurus-powered (presaging the B-101 Beverly Mk 2).
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From Beverly pilot notes for sale on ebay.nl
"BLACKBURN BEVERLEY C.Mk.1 - PILOT'S NOTES AP 4512A-P.N.
The origins of the Beverley lie in a series of design studies carried out by General Aircraft Ltd (GAL) in 1945, looking at the problems of large cargo-transport aircraft. During World War 2, GAL had been responsible for the design of the huge Hamilcar tank-carrying glider, most of which were built by sub-contractors. The development of the all-wood Hamilcar culminated in the Mk X version fitted with two Bristol Mercury engines. Employing the operational lessons learnt from the wartime use of the Hamilcar, GALs studies projected a twin-finned, four-engined, fixed-undercarriage, pod and boom aircraft with a detachable cargo compartment. Subsequent studies evolved a substantially larger aircraft with a fixed freight compartment, but retaining the same general layout.
In 1946 the Air Ministry issued specification C.3/46 calling for a medium-range tactical transport which could safely use small airfields. GAL submitted a refined version of it's design, designated G.A.L.60 Universal Freighter, and in 1948 was awarded a contract for two prototypes. The second prototype was later cancelled. As GAL was a fairly small company, with only limited production capacity, it began looking for a partner to help it develop the design. At the same time, Blackburn Aircraft Ltd was looking for additional work to keep its Brough factory busy, and saw good future prospects in the GAL design. Consequently, on 1 January 1949 General Aircraft Ltd merged with Blackburn Aircraft Ltd, to form Blackburn and General Aircraft Ltd."
