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In Germany in the 1930s, the Horten Brothers
manufactured a series of flying wing-style sailplanes. Their third model,
the Ho III, was their most successful design. Our kit represents one of
the three Ho IIIf's that were modified in 1943 to familiarize pilots with
the prone position (stomach down) necessary to fly the planned Ho IV, Ho
VI, and the Horten jet supersonic project aircraft. Lying prone had several
advantages over the conventional seated position: It was less tiring on
long flights, one could endure higher g-loads, forward visibiliy with unsurpassed,
and the craft itself could have a smaller cross-section. One hundred flying
hours were eventually accumulated by the Ho IIIf's. After World War II,
the Horten's produced the "Pierniferno," another prone-position
sailplane -- but it was foot-launched much like a hang-glider.
The picture (left) is the kit's color box art. If you are interested in having Sharkit release ultralight gliders, hang-gliders, and foot-launched sailplanes, write or email: SHARKIT, 9 rue Picardiere, 78200 Perdeauville, FRANCE. The Horton IIIf kit includes: |