page_title: Franklin PS-2
section_title: Operational history
hierarchical_section_title: Franklin PS-2 / Operational history
caption_attribution_description: English: A Franklin PS-2 (XPS-2) glider at the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory at Hampton, Virginia (USA). This beefy-looking glider is a Franklin PS-2, a pair of which were operated by the NACA at Langley beginning in April 1936. The Navy only ordered half a dozen of these training gliders, which had a glide ratio of 15 feet forward for every foot down. The devices above the pilot's seat are venturi tubes, which gathered data for the instruments. Airfield lights are seen above the wing.
context_page_description: The Franklin PS-2 is an American, high-wing, strut-braced, single seat, glider that was designed by R. E. Franklin and produced by the Franklin Glider Corporation starting in 1930.
context_section_description: The prototype Eaglet performed a number of long tows, including one flown by Frank Hawks from California to Elmira, New York in 1930 and is now in the National Air and Space Museum.
  In 1934, the PS-2 was the glider of choice for the Lustig Skytrain experiment. The concept was to tow three gliders in tandem, taking off from New York City and releasing one each over Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The gliders were piloted by Jack O'Meara, PS-2 designer R.E. Franklin and Stan Smith. The Skytrain was intended to be a proof-of-concept for a future airline service, but was not pursued.
  The PS-2 was also used in 1934 for a United States Navy primary flight training experiment in Pensacola, Florida, designed by Ralph Barnaby
  The PS-2 was also flown by many early glider pilots including Richard Chichester du Pont, Warren Eaton, Floyd Sweet and Stan Smith.
  In 1983, two were reported as being still flown and one was under restoration by the designer's son, Chuck Franklin. The Federal Aviation Administration had seven PS-2s registered in March 2011, including the Franklin-Stevens PS-2.
caption: Franklin XPS-2
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