Inside the Horten Flying Wing

Horten Ho 229 Jet Fighter/Bomber

Overview

The Horten Ho 229 was a German jet fighter/bomber developed in the late stages of World War II. It was the first flying wing aircraft powered by jet engines and was intended to be a technological breakthrough.

Design and Features

Flying wing design with a wingspan of 55 feet 1 inch (16.8 m)
Wooden framework with a plywood skin covering the steel airframe
Two Junkers 004B-2 Jumo engines with a thrust of 8.9kN each
Top speed of 607 mph (977 km/h) and a range of approximately 620 miles (1,000 km)
Armed with two 1.181 inch (30 mm) caliber cannons and two 1,100 lb (500 kg) bombs

Stealth Capabilities

The Horten Ho 229 was rumored to have stealth capabilities due to its sleek surface and lack of sharp angles. However, a 2008 study by Northrop Grumman found that the design was not as stealthy as previously thought.

Legacy

The Horten Ho 229 never saw combat and only had two successful flight tests. The project was cancelled at the end of World War II. The V3 prototype is currently preserved at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

Term	Definition	Example Usage
Stealth Technology	Design features that reduce an aircraft’s radar cross-section, making it harder to detect.	The Horten Ho 229 was rumored to have stealth capabilities due to its sleek surface and lack of sharp angles.
Flying Wing	A type of aircraft design where the wings and fuselage are integrated into a single unit.	The Horten Ho 229 was a flying wing aircraft powered by jet engines.
Jet Engine	A type of aircraft engine that uses the principles of aerodynamics to generate thrust.	The Horten Ho 229 was powered by two Junkers 004B-2 Jumo jet engines.
Radar Cross-Section	The measure of how much an object reflects radar waves, with a lower value indicating a smaller reflection.	The Horten Ho 229’s stealth capabilities were rumored to reduce its radar cross-section.
Prototype	A test or experimental version of a product or design.	The V3 prototype of the Horten Ho 229 is currently preserved at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
Wooden Framework	A structure made of wood used as the base for an aircraft’s airframe.	The Horten Ho 229 had a wooden framework with a plywood skin covering the steel airframe.
Plywood Skin	A layer of plywood used to cover the wooden framework of an aircraft.	The Horten Ho 229 had a plywood skin covering the steel airframe.
Thrust	The forward force generated by an aircraft’s engines.	The Horten Ho 229’s two Junkers 004B-2 Jumo engines produced a thrust of 8.9kN each.
Top Speed	The maximum speed an aircraft can reach.	The Horten Ho 229 had a top speed of 607 mph (977 km/h).
Range	The maximum distance an aircraft can fly without refueling.	The Horten Ho 229 had a range of approximately 620 miles (1,000 km).

Horten Ho 229 Vocabulary Quiz

Test your knowledge of the vocabulary from the text

1. What does the term “sleek” mean in the context of the Horten Ho 229’s design?

Having many sharp angles
Having a smooth and streamlined surface
Having a large wingspan
Having a heavy airframe

2. What is the meaning of “thrust” in relation to the Junkers 004B-2 Jumo engines?

The speed at which the engines rotate
The force that propels the aircraft forward
The weight of the engines
The fuel efficiency of the engines

3. What does “cancelled” mean in the context of the Horten Ho 229 project?

Completed successfully
Abandoned or stopped
Delayed indefinitely
Put on hold temporarily

4. What is the meaning of “framework” in relation to the Horten Ho 229’s airframe?

A covering made of plywood
A structure made of steel
A basic structure or skeleton
A type of engine

5. What does “preserved” mean in the context of the V3 prototype’s current state?

Destroyed or damaged
Kept in its original condition
Sold to a private collector
Loaned to a museum

Answer Key

1. b) Having a smooth and streamlined surface

2. b) The force that propels the aircraft forward

3. b) Abandoned or stopped

4. c) A basic structure or skeleton

5. b) Kept in its original condition

The Passive Voice with Modal Verbs

Explanation
The passive voice is often used to describe a process or a situation where the focus is on the action rather than the person performing the action. When using modal verbs such as ‘was’, ‘were’, ‘been’, ‘had’, ‘could’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘might’, ‘should’, ‘shall’, ‘ought’, ‘can’, and ‘must’ in the passive voice, the verb form changes to indicate the degree of possibility, necessity, or obligation. For example, ‘was intended to be’ and ‘was rumored to have’ are both passive constructions that use modal verbs to express purpose and speculation, respectively.

Explanation

The passive voice is often used to describe a process or a situation where the focus is on the action rather than the person performing the action. When using modal verbs such as ‘was’, ‘were’, ‘been’, ‘had’, ‘could’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘might’, ‘should’, ‘shall’, ‘ought’, ‘can’, and ‘must’ in the passive voice, the verb form changes to indicate the degree of possibility, necessity, or obligation. For example, ‘was intended to be’ and ‘was rumored to have’ are both passive constructions that use modal verbs to express purpose and speculation, respectively.

Quiz Time!

1. The Horten Ho 229 _______________________ to be a technological breakthrough.

A) was intended
B) were intended
C) is intended
D) intend

2. The design of the Horten Ho 229 _______________________ to have stealth capabilities.

A) was rumored
B) were rumored
C) is rumored
D) rumor

3. The project _______________________ at the end of World War II.

A) was cancelled
B) were cancelled
C) is cancelled
D) cancel

4. The V3 prototype _______________________ at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

A) is preserved
B) are preserved
C) was preserved
D) preserve

5. A 2008 study by Northrop Grumman _______________________ that the design was not as stealthy as previously thought.

A) found
B) was found
C) were found
D) find

Answer Key:

1. A) was intended
2. A) was rumored
3. A) was cancelled
4. A) is preserved
5. A) found