General Aircraft Hotspur

<!-- This article is a part of WikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout. -->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.

Although originally conceived as an "assault" glider which necessitated a compact design, a change in tactical philosophy predicated against the use of small numbers of troops being sent into battle aboard gliders. Due to limitations in its design, the Hotspur was mainly relegated to training where it excelled and became the basic trainer for the glider schools that were formed.

Development

Operational requirements

The German military had pioneered using airborne formations, conducting several successful airborne operations during the Battle of France in 1940, including the Battle of Fort Eben-Emael. Impressed by the success of German airborne operations, the Allied governments decided to...
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