Pratt-Read / PR-G1

Glider Reg. Number: -

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Design & Development

The LNE-1 is a two, side-by-side, seat glider trainer. The glider was built by the Pratt-Read and Co., Gould Aero Div., in Deep River, CT. The proposed design was made for the training of Navy and Marine Corps glider pilots to land Marines in the Pacific during World War II. The Navy glider program was quickly disbanded, as glider landings in the Pacific during WWII was determined not to be practical and 73 of the LNE-1's that were produced were transferred to the United States Army Air Force and were re-designated TG-32's. The Army Air Force did not use the gliders and they were all put into storage and then sold after the end of the war for $500.

In civilian hands, several were used to study severe and high altitude weather conditions. It also held several soaring records for multi-place sailplanes, including in 1952 for absolute altitude of 44,255 feet.