The flying wing was most recently marketed as an ideal platform for unmanned operations with a potential range of 2,175 miles or an endurance of 20 hours.
The sole Horten HX-2 awaits its next test flight in October 2019. [Courtesy: Jason McDowell]
Key Takeaways:
The Horten HX-2 is a modern, efficient two-seat flying wing aircraft, representing a rare category with a design lineage from early aviation pioneers like Reimar Horten.
While flying wings face challenges for large passenger aircraft, the HX-2 demonstrates their advantages in smaller applications, boasting impressive fuel efficiency (32.8 mpg), stable handling, and versatility for future developments like hydrogen power and unmanned variants.
Despite its promising design and potential, development and marketing of the Horten HX-2 have stalled since 2020, with hopes for its revival contingent on future investment.
Cool as they are, flying wings are exceedingly rare.
Among the two dozen or so individual models that have been built over the years, only a few types have been produced in quantities of more than two or three. Fewer still were both manned and powered, and the small Horten HX-2 is a member of that exclusive group.
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Jason McDowell is a private pilot and Cessna 170 owner based in Madison, Wisconsin. He enjoys researching obscure aviation history and serves as a judge for the National Intercollegiate Flying Association. He can be found on Instagram as @cessnateur.
