Horten 229

[Willy McCoy]

Anyone have links to footage of the test flights of the Horten 229? Technical U.S. test evaluation? I wonders if any footage survived the war? I've tried to google but to use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBnBSJ9bz3A

I did find this one little youtube clip but I fear that it's a phony. The Army would never allow a film aircraft in front of the test plane nor would it have hangars huddled at the end of a runway. By the front wheel coming up I would suspect that it has just come off the runway. Would the Army even let the landing gear retract on such a valuable piece of technology?

If this plane was of no significant importance to the Army Air-corp then why is it still highly guarded? I believe Northrop only had 6 hours to study the airframe and they are very trusted by the USAF.

 

[Weasel_Loader]

Interesting film clip.

The Ho-229 had me hooked on German WW2 technology since I was a kid. As much as I've worked around the B-2, it still stops me in my tracks when I see it fly here at Edwards AFB. The thing is so unconventional to flight that it looks beautiful at all angles.

 

[johnwayne]

Fascinating stuff must admit - certainly well ahead of its time. I recall seeing the B2 here in the UK when USAF at Mildenhall used to do annual airshow (best burgers ever and pre 9/11 of course!!) and it flew in specially for the day from Missouri - some 3000miles+ but what a sight that was. The announcer told us to look to the left of the airfield and for some time you could hardly see anything and then this 'stick' or 'pencil' gradually came into sight getting bigger and bigger as it got nearer and then of course it banked as it came over the airfield - what an impressive aircraft!! The sight and the sound is one I've not forgotten and our own Vulcan (only one left flying now) has the same effect on me and that's a late 50's/60's plane - an awsome sight.

cheers
Wayne