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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 2367.PDF
SEPTEMBER 30TH, 1943 365 Their Characteristics AIRSPEED HORSA TAIL AND LARGE 5TRAICHT LEVEL TOP-LINE HIGH ASPECT-RATIO RECTANGULAR TAILPLANE HICH BRACED TAILPLANE TRICYCLE LJNDERCAITRIACE THICK SECTION HICH WING CIRCULAR SECTION RECTANGULAR CENTRE SECTION \ DIMENSIONS. Span .. .. Length Height Wing area .. .. 1, .. 88ft. .. 67ft. .. 21/t. 104 sq. ft. STRAIGHT TRAILINC EDCE TTARGER than its American contemporary, and possessingI appreciably better aerodynamical qualities, the Air- •*~^ speed Horsa is now Britain's standard glider transportand troop-carrier, and can accommodate from 20 to 25 fully equipped fighting men—nearly double the numbercarried by the Hadrian. The obvious necessity to spread such a load so that the centre of gravity should remain inthe right place has resulted in a very long blunt nose, and this in turn called for a reasonable large fin and rudder.• Wooden construction is employed for wings and fuselage, the latter being plywood-covered. The wings are coveredwith plywood only from leading-edge to main spar, fabric covering bfing used for the rest of the surface. A largeentrance for troops or freight is provided on the port side-v immediately behind the cockpit, which has dual controlarranged side by side. The door of the entrance hinges downwards to form a ramp to the ground. The main undercarriage, the legs of which are anchorednear the bottom of the cylindrical part of the fuselage and beneath the rectangular centre-section of the cantileverwing, can be dropped after take-off and a landing made on the central skid and the nose-wheel. A small tail-propis also provided to protect the lower extremity of the rudder during landing on rough ground. Two gunners' hatchesare provided, an upper one in the centre-section of the wing and a lower one with trap door in the floor of the afterpart of the fuselage ; small arms could also be used. The high wing is fitted with slatted grid air brakes aswell as flaps and has a straight trailing-edge and a back- swept leading-edge outboard of the centre-section. Thetailplane, which is mounted a short way up the fin and braced by double struts to the fuselage, has parallel edgesand is of fairly high aspect-ratio. Like the wings, its tips are rounded and shelve inwards towards the rear.
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