Horten H.VII
Horten · Germany · first flew 1944 · light aircraft
The Horten H.VII was a twin-engine flying-wing trainer developed by the Horten brothers in Germany during World War Two, intended as a stepping stone to the jet-powered H.IX (Ho 229).
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | twin-engine flying wing with no fuselage or tail surfaces |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- twin-engine flying wing with no fuselage or tail surfaces
- crew prone in the wing centre-section
- two pusher propellers at the wing trailing edge
A pure flying wing with absolutely no tail or conventional fuselage — the aircraft is all wing. Two pusher propellers sit at the trailing edge. The silhouette is quite different from contemporary aircraft and immediately recognisable for what it is. Smaller than the H.IX and lacking that type's jet engine intakes.
Specifications
- The Horten H.VII has a length of 6.8 m (22 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16 m (52 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 350 km/h (217 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Reimar and Walter Horten designed the H.VII as a powered trainer to familiarise pilots with the flying qualities of their pure flying-wing layout before converting to the jet H.IX. First flown in 1944, it featured two Argus As 10 piston engines buried in the wing root driving pusher propellers. Only a small number were built before Germany's defeat ended the programme.
Variants
The H.VII was a unique design without formal sub-variants; it served solely as a trainer for the H.IX programme.
Where you'll see it
Operated in very small numbers by the Luftwaffe as an experimental and conversion trainer; no combat service.
Related aircraft
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