Transport Gliders?

[rezell]

Can anyone tell me if the photo below is of WWII glider Chassis/bodies?
If so, this is likely a photo of the Snead & Company factory floor in Orange, VA which manufactured transport gliders for the USN.

thanks for any insignts.

 

[SaparotRob]

I have no idea what that is but that's a cool photo.
Hi, and welcome to the Forum from Long Island, NY

 

[Wurger]

The WW2 gliders were made of wood or were a metal pipe structure covered with fabric. These look like hulls of a flat-bottom boat rather.

PS.... welcome to the site.

 

[pbehn]

The WW2 gliders were made of wood or were a metal pipe structure covered with fabric. These look like hulls of a flat-bottom boat rather.

PS.... welcome to the site.

Or from my less than extensive knowledge of WW2 pontoon bridges, they look a bit like the Airfix kit I had once.

 

[Wurger]

That's very likely. A very good idea.

 

[EwenS]

The US Navy ordered a series of experimental transport gliders that were designed to float. But these were built out of wood.

XLRA-1

Allied Aviation XLRA - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

XLRQ-1

Bristol XLRQ - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

There was also a pair of twin hulled designs from AGA Aviation (XLRG-1) and Snead & Co (XLRH-1) ordered in 1942 but not built per Putnam's United States Naval Aircraft since 1911. But this says different (page 18 of the .pdf) about the Snead design.

https://usmilitaryaircraft.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/navy-h.pdf

 

[Gnomey]

Good shots!

 

[nuuumannn]

My initial thought was metal underside panniers for transport aircraft, but they are quite big. At the end of the row there is one up the other way. They are certainly lightweight aluminium skinned construction.