WW2 British RAF/ RCAF – GAL. 48 HOTSPUR MAIN WHEEL – GLIDER TRAINING AIRCRAFT

You are bidding on a SUPERB used example of a WW2 Royal Air Force / Royal Canadian Main Wheel & Tire, as ONLY used on the GAL. 48 Hotspur Training Glider!

The General Aircraft GAL.48 Hotspur was a military glider designed and built by the British company General Aircraft Ltd during World War II. When the British airborne establishment was formed in 1940 by order of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, it was decided that gliders would be used to transport airborne troops into battle. General Aircraft Ltd were given a contract by the Ministry of Aircraft Production in June 1940 to design and produce an initial glider for use by the airborne establishment, which resulted in the Hotspur.

Conceived as an “assault” glider which necessitated a compact design and no more than eight troops carried, tactical philosophy soon favoured larger numbers of troops being sent into battle aboard gliders. Therefore, the Hotspur was mainly relegated to training, where it excelled and became the basic trainer for the glider schools that were formed.

The Hotspur was named after Sir Henry Percy, a significant captain during the Anglo-Scottish wars who was also known as “Hotspur”.

Made of aluminum, steel, and magnesium, this Wheel & Tire are in VERY NICE used condition! A barn find from the UK, this is a 4×8 tire, fitted onto a Dunlop A.H. 8041 Wheel (100% correct for a Hotspur). It does shows signs of wear, marks, and scratches, it still retains much of the original paint and markings! The original inner tube is present, but I have not attempted to fill it with air, so I am not sure if it holds. I have indicated its location in the last photos. Could need a bit of clean-up, but otherwise an EXCEPTIONALLY nice and original item for any collection, display, or restoration project!