These beautiful pictures are available through the generosity of Professor Dezso George-Falvy and the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. They are from the personal collection of Professor George-Falvy, and I can't begin to thank him enough for allowing me to present them here.


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View from the tow plane after release

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Getting a tow in the skies of Mississippi

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The Ho IV with it's tow plane after a day's flights

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The Ho IV coming in for a landing, with spoilers extended.

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Great shot of the Ho IV against the sky

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Getting ready for a tow

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Dezso George-Falvy and an assistant pose in front of the Ho IV

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Getting into the Ho IV requires the help of an assistant

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The Ho IV was a tight fit for average pilots, and Dezo George-Falvy is a big guy.

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A landing, all spoilers and speed brakes deployed

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Fitting the 'lid' onto the Ho IV. A sardine would feel right a home.

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Instrumenting the Ho IV wing with an integrating wake rake

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A preflight inspection of the wing surfaces

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The Ho IV was not an easy airplane to get into.

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Another landing shot, with the spoilers extended

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Rudy Opitz in the Ho IV awaiting a tow

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Working on the instrumentation

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But what do you do if you need to sneeze?

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Installing the integrating trailing edge wake rake

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Getting a tow

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Airborne!

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Putting the Ho IV onto it's trailer for transport

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The Ho IV being trailered

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The Ho IV center section

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Getting out of the Ho IV required help after a flight. The pilot here is Rudy Opitz

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Rudy Opitz in the Ho IV

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Rudy Opitz stepping out of the Ho IV

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The Ho IV soaring

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The Ho IV after a flight with Rudy Opitz being transported. Note the helper keeping the wing tips level and the trailering dolly beneath the aircraft

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Rudy must have had a good flight, he's smiling.

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The Ho IV was instrumented with yarn tufts. Notice the separation in the middle area, the so-called "middle-effect" which plagued Horten throughout his career.