SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post - Documentary, video and evaulation of the Horton 229 Flying wing.

Commander Wallace · 05-10-17, 07:44 AM

@ Catfish. I had no idea the Horton's were involved with gliders but it makes sense. The envisioned use of the Horton 18 as an intercontinental bomber was impractical because of the logistical problems involved such as mid air refueling and other concerns. With advanced weapons like an atomic bomb, the Horton 18 and the fighter version would have posed a significant danger to England and the Former Soviet Union.

Further, there was a critical shortage or raw materials and the Metallurgy wasn't available to build compressor fan blades able to withstand the heat of the jet engines resulting in a low TBO ( Time between overhauls ) It's likely the time it would have taken the Ho 18 to traverse the distance between Germany or even France to America's shores would have exceeded that TBO time frame by a fair margin as well to say nothing of the return trip home. Still, the design of the Horton flying wing was generations ahead of it's time.

Thanks for the Info and post Catfish.

Eichhörnchen@ I was aware of the flying wing but not the history and the video brought everything into focus. The video was a great find as I was unaware of it. Being into aircraft, It was an easy assumption that you had already viewed the video though.

05-10-17, 07:44 AM	#4
Commander Wallace Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Under the sea in an Octupus garden in the shade Posts: 5,343 Downloads: 366 Uploads: 0	@ Catfish. I had no idea the Horton's were involved with gliders but it makes sense. The envisioned use of the Horton 18 as an intercontinental bomber was impractical because of the logistical problems involved such as mid air refueling and other concerns. With advanced weapons like an atomic bomb, the Horton 18 and the fighter version would have posed a significant danger to England and the Former Soviet Union. Further, there was a critical shortage or raw materials and the Metallurgy wasn't available to build compressor fan blades able to withstand the heat of the jet engines resulting in a low TBO ( Time between overhauls ) It's likely the time it would have taken the Ho 18 to traverse the distance between Germany or even France to America's shores would have exceeded that TBO time frame by a fair margin as well to say nothing of the return trip home. Still, the design of the Horton flying wing was generations ahead of it's time. Thanks for the Info and post Catfish. Eichhörnchen@ I was aware of the flying wing but not the history and the video brought everything into focus. The video was a great find as I was unaware of it. Being into aircraft, It was an easy assumption that you had already viewed the video though.