This 80+ year old flying wing design and the CAD work to produce this video are incredible
The Horten Ho-229 was the world’s first jet-powered flying wing. This was the third prototype of this advanced German aircraft that never saw combat. It was developed in the late stages of the WW2 when Germany desperately needed new weapons to change the course of war. The design of the Ho-229 was an attempt to produce a fast and highly maneuverable jet. In the decades after the war the aircraft became famous for its unusual shape and resemblance to the modern, B-2 stealth bomber, sparking questions about its alleged stealth capabilities. But was it really stealth? In this film we will answer this question, and show you how it was constructed eight decades ago.
Can you imagine an updated version of this plane with composite construction, modern engines and fly-by-wire computer control? Wow, that would be amazing, as the 80+ year old pre-CAD design is already amazing! 9.22 feet (2.8 meters) tall, 24.5 feet (7.5 meters) long with a wingspan of 55 feet (16.8 meters).
Same as any flying wing plane, like the B-2 stealth bomber.
It seems that the B-2 is inspired by this aircraft; in fact, it wouldn’t be far from the truth to think that its design is a reinterpretation of the original Nazi design, as both America and Russia acquired much knowledge by either stealing or forcing Nazi scientists into exile in exchange for protection and a new life. Fortunately, they didn’t manage to complete the development of the technology needed to build jet aircraft. According to some historians, this could have changed the course of the war, as they would have had no rivals, neither Russian nor American, at that time. Moreover, having the atomic bomb wouldn’t have guaranteed victory against jet aircraft that could destroy you before you even took off. In any case, the 3D project is really beautiful.
for example the Clen Antú, which stood out at the 1952 World Gliding Championship in Spain, helped the Argentine delegation achieve 4th place among the world’s 39 best glider pilots—despite being damaged.
I’m sure that a designer as prolific as he was would not remain idle after designing all this.
We will never truly know what he worked on during those last 40 years after designing all those gliders.
My claim as a transportation and car designer is as follows:
As an author or co-author, the shape, the craftsmanship, and the “spirit” remain the same. The aerodynamic design style suggests that he used a particular curve as his signature—a hidden mark of his involvement inovation or spirit.
My speculations: It is more probable that Horten did not what to do killing machines as a soaring glider designer. Horten did not want to be involved, somehow forced.
¿ It’s evident that he remained inactive in aeronautical design, which lasted until his passing in 1994 ?
Two days after his passing in 1994, the Royal Aeronautical Society awarded him the British Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Aeronautics.
The same thing happens in the car industry when working for others: the boss always claims credit for the design, even though he never directly puts pencil to paper.
For me, at a certain point in his career, when he realized his designs were being used for military purposes, and that he could change jobs without straying too far from the idea of making something fly, he thought, 'Hey, how about designing boomerangs?
My idea of using gliders and thermal soaring to take pictures on other planets thicker atmospheres applies more to Titan than Mars. On Titan, you can use rising air currents thermal soaring and waves through the night, which is much harder to achieve on Mars. I prsume on Mars you can just use a satellite.
Would it be possible to fly something on Mars using drones, considering ground stations with solar energy charging points, or is it an idea to discard due to Mars’ atmosphere?
In low-pressure environments, lifting a drone requires a great deal of energy. You also need a ground station, which limits operational range. A balloon, on the other hand, doesn’t require constant power to stay aloft and simply floats. An inflatable wing can be especially useful when a large panel surface is needed. Additionally, if more detailed work is required, a drone can be deployed from the balloon.
