Italeri AS.51 Horsa Mk.1 w/ Brit. Paras.

The Horsa glider is a British transport glider that was mass-produced by Airspeed Ltd, Austin Motor Company and Harris Lebus during World War II. Wooden, half-shell structure with high wing configuration. Horsa type gliders were intended to transport troops and equipment directly to the enemy's rear. These gliders were designed so that they could be produced independently in separate factories and the assembly was carried out by RAF mechanics, who assembled in this way about 3,000 devices, while the Airspeed factory only 700. The Mk.II version had a movable nose, which allowed loading heavy equipment such as Jeep. The first major operation carried out with this type of glider was the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, where 27 machines were used. Then, Horsa gliders were used during the Normandy landings in 1944, the Rhine crossing in 1945 as part of Operation Varsity. Technical data: length: 20.4 m, wingspan: 26.8 m, height: 6.4 m, empty weight: 3400 kg.