The Briegleb BG-7 is an American strut-braced

high-wing A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing co ...

, single seat

glider Glider may refer to: Aircraft and transport Aircraft * Glider (aircraft), heavier-than-air aircraft primarily intended for unpowered flight ** Glider (sailplane), a rigid-winged glider aircraft with an undercarriage, used in the sport of glidin ...

that was designed by William G. Briegleb and produced by the

Sailplane Corporation of America The Sailplane Corporation of America was a US manufacturer of sailplanes founded by Gus Briegleb at a former US Army Airfield at El Mirage Dry Lake in California to market kits and plans of his own designs. The firm's greatest success was the Brie ...

as a completed aircraft and also as a kit.Said, Bob: ''1983 Sailplane Directory,

Soaring Magazine ''SOARING'' is a magazine published monthly as a membership benefit of the Soaring Society of America. It was first published in 1937. The headquarters is in Hobbs, New Mexico. The magazine's article topics include safety issues and accounts of in ...

'', page 7. Soaring Society of America, November 1983. USPS 499-920

Design and development

The BG-7 was a development of the 1939 BG-6, with longer, semi-tapered wings of span, compared to the wing on the earlier model. The BG-7 wing is made from wood structure, with two

spar SPAR, originally DESPAR, styled as DE SPAR, is a Dutch multinational that provides branding, supplies and support services for independently owned and operated food retail stores. It was founded in the Netherlands in 1932, by Adriaan van Well, ...

s and covered in doped

aircraft fabric Aircraft fabric covering is a term used for both the material used and the process of covering aircraft open structures. It is also used for reinforcing closed plywood structures. The de Havilland Mosquito is an example of this technique, as are ...

. The wing is supported by dual

strut A strut is a structural component commonly found in engineering, aeronautics, architecture and anatomy. Struts generally work by resisting longitudinal compression, but they may also serve in tension. Human anatomy Part of the functionality o ...

s. The

fuselage The fuselage (; from the French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an engine as well, although in some amphibious aircraf ...

is made from steel tube, again with fabric covering and the tail is metal and fabric. The longer wing created stability issues and many aircraft were subsequently modified by either lengthening the tail to increase the tail arm or enlarging the vertical fin. Cockpit modifications were also common. Three BG-7s were completed by the factory and a further 20 kits were sold. The type was never

certified Certification is the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements. It is the formal attestation or confirmation of certain characteristics of a ...

and most were amateur-built from factory kits.

Operational history

In 1952 Betsy Woodward Proudfit, flying a BG-7, set the feminine speed record for the triangle, at . The record stood for eighteen years. In March 2011 there were still 2 BG-7s on the

Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic ...

Specifications (BG-7)

References

{{Briegleb aircraft 1940s United States sailplanes BG-7 Aircraft first flown in 1940

Design and development

Operational history

Specifications (BG-7)

See also

References