Horten Ho X

The Ho X was a high speed arrow shaped flying wing inspired by Busemann's statement in 1936 of the beneficial effect of sweepback on delay of the shock stall. This apparently cheered up the Horten brothers and gave them new proof that they were working on the right lines. They took some inspiration from similar concepts by Lippish also.

Initial work on the H X consisted of experiments with flying models of 10 feet length weighing about 8-10 kg. From these they deduced the CG position needed for satisfactory flight with low aspect ratio and high sweepback, and found that they got good results with 4° dihedral and no fin area. The next step was man carrying glider model weighing 400 kg.

Work on the glider Ho X was in progress at Hersfeld. But on June 4, 1945 the location were found to be used as an M.T. servicing depot and all aircraft components had been dumped in a basement. Only one wing rib and the main spar could be found. All drawings and calculations had gone.

The next step was to have been a power version with an Argus AS 10C pusher engine. The final development was envisioned as a jet propelled aircraft, with the same general dimensions, weighing 6-7,000 kg. A single H 11 jet engine was proposed and a supersonic top speed of 1,200 km/h was expected with 1,300 kg thrust; the thrust was to be improved to 1,500 kg.

The propelled Ho X existed only as a plastic model kit for kids, ref. SHARKIT 72007.