Horten Ho 229
Gothaer Waggonfabrik · Germany · first flew 1944 · fighter
The Horten H.IX, officially the Ho 229, was a German flying-wing fighter-bomber prototype designed by Reimar and Walter Horten.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.4 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tailless flying wing with no fin or separate tail surfaces
- Two Junkers Jumo 004B turbojets buried in the wing, with intakes in the leading edge
- Retractable tricycle undercarriage under a flying wing
A swept, tailless wing with a small central cockpit and no vertical fin. The wing is of mixed construction, with a welded steel tube centre section and pine and plywood outer panels.
Specifications
- The Horten Ho 229 has a length of 7.4 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.8 m (55 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 960 km/h (597 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It answered a 1943 call from Goering for a light bomber meeting the "3x1000" requirement. The unpowered V1 first flew on 1 March 1944 and the jet-powered V2 on 2 February 1945. Three prototypes were ordered.
Variants
Gothaer Waggonfabrik redesigned the aircraft for production as the Gotha Go 229, adding a simple ejection seat and a strengthened undercarriage. The Ho 229A was to carry two 30 mm MK 108 cannon.
Where you'll see it
It never entered service, as the war ended during testing. It was one of the earliest flying wings powered by jet engines.
Related aircraft
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