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What on earth is this guy flying?


Tailgunner

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History

In Germany  Reimar Horten assisted by his brother Walter built a series of swept-wing sailplanes without conventional fuselages or tails.

Almost seamlessly blending the cockpit into the centersection, the brothers successfully flew their aircraft without fins, rudders, stabilizers, or other vertical surfaces usually employed for control or stability.

In order to retain their finless wing layout and get the maximum aerodynamic efficiency, the pilot was put in a prone position with his body in a 27% thickness ratio egg and his knees and legs in a small leg well, which also supported the rear skid.

The "praying mantis" pilot position proved to be very comfortable on long flights.

The pilot could rest his chin on a soft cushion, the safety harness was buckled on his back, but could be released along with the cockpit cover in an emergency.

The first Ho IV flew in May 1941 at the Konigsberg Luftwaffe base.

After a few low level winch tows, the test pilot Scheidhauer took an aero tow to 10000 feet and returned after more than one hour in the air.

Two survived the war, and were flown by RAF personnel in Germany and England until 1950.

Serial no26 remained in Germany and was put into storage after a crash landing.

When it became part of the Deutsches Museum collection in 1971, the mid-section was missing and was reconstructed during restoration work.

Serial no25, was transported to England, and went through several owners, ending up in the USA in 1951.

The following year, Rudolf Opitz won two major soaring contests with it, and placed seventh in the Nationals, after losing points through a navigational error.

In 1959 it was chosen by the Aerophysics Department of Mississippi State University to take part in a sailplane research program.

The aircraft is now on display at the Planes of Fame museum in Chino, California

Specifications 

    Span                  20.3 m

    Sweep Angle            20 degrees

    Taper Ratio            6.0

    Wing Root Thickness    16% chord

    Wing Root Depth        1.55 m

    Rib Spacing            0.20 m (0.10 at the leading edge)

    Wing Area              18.9 m2

    Aspect Ratio          21.8

    Pilot position        Prone

    Mid-section width      1.6 m

    Cockpit width          0.8 m

    Cockpit height        0.55 m

    Empty weight          250 kg

    Ballast (water)        ---

    Additional payload    80 kg

    Maximum weight        330 kg

    Wing loading          17.5 kg/m2

    Stall speed            55 km/h

    Landing speed          55 km/h

    Minimum Sink          0.50 m/s at 60 km/h and 17.5 kg/m2 loading

    Best Glide Ratio      37:1 at 73 km/h and 17.5 kg/m2 loading

    Maximum speed          200 km/h

As dpc111 broke the "Egg" some additional info on this particular type of Aircraft, our American brethern may recognize some of a B-2 in it, as this was it's example ;)

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where can it be found?

at www.avsim.com

Filename: hoiva.zip

License: Freeware, limited distribution

Added: 16th May 2008

Downloads: 1696

Author: David Rowberry

Size: 9228kb

Also available it's Bigger Brother ;D

Filename: ho-229_r2.zip

License: Freeware

Added: 13th May 2007

Downloads: 2151

Author: Fred Highland

Size: 17647kb

have fun

8)

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Cool little plane, just downloaded this, and its one of the best freeware vc I have seen in some time, very nice addition to my hanger! thanks for the info about it.

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Should have known that Wolter [who apparently never sleeps] would be first off the mark. He is awarded a virtual Fosters for every one of those super shots. His new rig must indeed be a beauty. I suspect that Dave, who posted above, may well be David Rowberry. If so, hats off to the very talented creator of the Horton IV. Also from his stable, and also available at Avsim, is the Aeriane Swift - pic below -a modern foot-launched glider which can be had in a powered version. To see it in flight, tap 'Swift' into YouTube.

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;D Taikgunner ;D

Why you think my nickname is "Fledermaus" (Bat in english) I'm one of those "Nocturnal" animals  ;)

I didn't spill the beans, that was dpc111 I merely posted a closeup screenie to show I knew what you was talking about  ::)

and I've added the directions as where to get these beauty's 8)

as for the Aeriane Swift this is also a resident in one of my hangars, this is also one of those "must have" aircraft imho, as is the Horten IV :D

and I like that screenie of the Aeriane Swift you posted very much ! 8);D

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;D Taikgunner ;D

Why you think my nickname is "Fledermaus" (Bat in english) I'm one of those "Nocturnal" animals  ;)

I didn't spill the beans, that was dpc111 I merely posted a closeup screenie to show I knew what you was talking about  ::)

and I've added the directions as where to get these beauty's 8)

as for the Aeriane Swift this is also a resident in one of my hangars, this is also one of those "must have" aircraft imho, as is the Horten IV :D

and I like that screenie of the Aeriane Swift you posted very much ! 8);D

Yes, but I'll gladly share my virtual pint!

Dave

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