AIRSPEED Aircraft Manual PDF

An AIRSPEED Airplane Pilot's Manual PDF is above the page.

The first AS-51 prototype, designated the Horsa Mk.l, took off on Friday September 12, 1941 from Great West Air Base.

The tests were successful, and after showing the glider to a number of senior Air Force officers, it was recommended for adoption.

In addition to the Airspeed factory in Christchurch (Hampshire), the Austin Motor Company participated in mass production, and the furniture company Harris Leibus and a dozen small factories participated as subcontractors. In total, 3799 Horsa gliders were produced: 2238 in the modification of MK.1 and 1561 - MK.I.

Glider Airspeed "Horsa" was a free-standing high-wing, solid-wood construction, designed to transport people and goods. The British called it the most wooden flying device in the world.

Later gliders also had a towing rail sagging indicator, consisting of two white cruciform marks applied to the windshield.

When flying, the leer was required to be held between them. Initially, communication with the towing vehicle was carried out by telephone, through a cable laid along the rail, after disconnecting the glider, it lost contact with the commander.

Glider "Horsa" had doors on both sides of the cargo compartment. At the rear of the fuselage, the door was located on the right, and in the front on the left.

Doors opened upward, inside the fuselage, to ensure the release of paratroopers. In practice, however, this opportunity has never been used.

The front door was located on the door of the cargo hatch measuring 2.37 x 1.52 m, which was used for loading and unloading heavy and bulky items.