The General Aircraft GAL.56 was a family of 1940s British experimental tailless swept wing glider designs.

Eric "Winkle" Brown RN later described it as the most difficult aircraft he ever flew, out of the many hundreds of types that he tested.

The pilot, Robert Kronfeld, initiated a stall that progressed into an uncontrollable dive that caused both crew to lose consciousness.

He baled out successfully at low level, but Kronfeld died in the crash at Lower Froyle, near Lasham.

As a result of the crash, and persistent stall problems on all tailless aircraft of the period,[citation needed] the research trials were terminated, the two other GAL.56s were transferred to the AFEE (Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment) at RAF Beaulieu, and the GAL.61 remained unflown.