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| TG-10 | |
|---|---|
 TG-10B gliders at the U.S. Air Force Academy | |
| General information | |
| Type | Training glider |
| Manufacturer | Let Kunovice |
| Designer | |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Number built | 21 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 2002 |
| Retired | 2012 |
| Developed from | LET L-13 Blaník |
TheTG-10 is the military designation for theBlanik,Super Blaník andBlanik L-33 SoloCzechoslovakiansailplanes used for basic flight training at theUnited States Air Force Academy. The academy maintained an inventory of 21 TG-10s, in these three variants, until 2012. The aircraft were flown by cadets and officers of the94th Flying Training Squadron,306th Flying Training Group,Nineteenth Air Force,Air Education and Training Command.
All of the TG-10 models are of aluminiumsemi-monocoque construction with fabric-covered control surfaces. All are equipped with full soaring instrument panels (altimeter, airspeed indicator, accelerometer, variometer, vertical velocity indicator, magnetic compass) and feature a full avionics suite (VHF radio, GPS, navigation computer, ELT).
TG-10BMerlin:LET L-23 Super Blanik. 12 in inventory. Basic trainer; 2-seat tandem configuration. Used in the academy'sSoar For All Program and for training cadets to become glider instructor pilots. Four of them have been configured for high altitude wave soaring.
TG-10CKestrel/"Saber":LET L-13AC Blanik. 5 in inventory. Advanced trainer; cockpit and controls are identical to the Merlin making transitions between the two aircraft very seamless. Used for aerobatics and spin training. Slightly heavier with shorter wingspan and conventional tail configuration offers slightly faster dynamic response to control inputs.
TG-10DPeregrine/"Thunder":Let L-33 Solo. 4 in inventory. Advanced trainer; single seater. Cockpit and controls are similar to TG-10B. Used for advanced cross country and wave soaring training.
In 2007 the Air Force Academy began retiring the TG-10D sailplanes in favor of the newer high-performance gliders, theSchempp-Hirth Duo Discus andDiscus 2b, designated the TG-15A (tandem two-seater) and TG-15B (single seat). In 2011, the Air Force Academy began retiring its remaining TG-10B and TG-10C gliders. Both variants have been replaced by theTG-16A.[1]
The academy used the older, very reliableTG-4 gliders (SchweizerSGS 2-33) until 2002, when it replaced them with the newer TG-10.[2][failed verification] Until 2004, sailplane operations were conducted by the 94th Flying Training Squadron under the34th Operations Group, a unit of the34th Training Wing,United States Air Force Academy. In 2004, the 94th as well as other operations units at the academy (98th and 557th) realigned under Air Education and Training Command.
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