Airspeed Horsa

Airspeed Horsa

Description
Role Troop transport glider
Crew 2
Capacity 25 Passengers
First Flight September 12, 1941
Entered Service May, 1942
Manufacturer Airspeed Ltd, Austin Motor Company, Harris Lebus
Dimensions
Length 67ft 0in 20.4 m
Wingspan 88ft 0in 26.8 m
Height 21ft 0in 6.4 m
Wing Area 1,148 ft² 106.7 m²
Weights
Empty 7,500 lbs 3,400 kg
Loaded 15,250 lbs 6,920 kg
Maximum takeoff lbs kg
Performance
Towing speed 127mph 204km/h
Gliding speed 100mph 160km/h
Wing loading 13.3 lb/ft² 64.9 kg/m²

The Airspeed AS51 Horsa was a World War II troop-carrying glider built by the British company Airspeed Ltd and subcontractors. It was named after the 5th century warrior Horsa and was used for air assault by British and Allied armed forces.

The use of assault gliders by the British was prompted by the use by Germany of the DFS 230, which was first used in May 1940 to successfully assault the Eben Emael fort in Belgium. Their advantage compared to parachute assault was that the troops were landed together in one place, rather than being dispersed.

With around 28 troop seats, the Horsa was much bigger than the 13-troop American Waco CG-4A (known as Hadrian by the British), and the 8-troop General Aircraft Hotspur glider which was intended for training duties only. As well as troops, the AS51 could carry a jeep or a 6 pound gun. The AS58 Horsa Mk.II had a hinged nose section, reinforced floor and double nose wheels to support the extra weight of vehicles.

The Horsa was first used in combat on July 10, 1943, when 27 were used in the invasion of Sicily. Large numbers were subsequently used in the Normandy, Operation Dragoon, Operation Market Garden, and Operation Varsity (Crossing the river Rhine). In Normandy, the first troops to land in France did so using Horsas, capturing Pegasus Bridge.

On operations they were towed variously by Stirling, Halifax, Albemarle, Whitley and C-47 Dakota tugs, using a harness that attached to both wings. Glider pilots were usually from the Glider Pilot Regiment, part of the Army Air Corps, although Royal Air Force pilots were used on occasion. The Horsa was also used in service by the by the USAF.

Design and manufacture

The Horsa was designed to specification X.26/40 and built from 1940 onwards, with a high-wing all-wooden construction due to the shortage of other materials. It was one of the first gliders equipped with a tricycle undercarriage for take-off. On operational flights this was jettisoned and landing was made on a skid under the fuselage.

The Horsa was considered sturdy and very manoeuvrable for a glider. 3655 were built, many contracted to companies outside the aircraft industry. The gliders were built in a number of sections, each produced in a separate factories in case of German attack.

Commemoration

On June 5, 2004, as part of the 60th anniversary commemoration of D-Day, Prince Charles unveiled a replica Horsa on the site of the first landing at Pegasus Bridge, and talked with the original pilot of the aircraft, Jim Wallwork.

Airspeed Horsa

Design and manufacture

Commemoration

See also