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:
Flying wings are a rare aircraft design, primarily due to challenges in large passenger applications, but they show promise in military, UAV, and smaller private/business aviation sectors.
The Horten HX-2 is a modern, two-seat flying wing with a historical lineage, notable for its exceptional fuel efficiency (e.g., 32.8 mpg) and stable handling characteristics.
Horten envisioned the HX-2 as a versatile platform for a family of aircraft, including kit versions, four-seaters, and long-range hydrogen-powered variants, as well as an ideal base for unmanned operations.
Despite its innovative design and potential, development and marketing efforts for the Horten HX-2 have stalled since 2020, though hopes remain for future investment to revive the program.
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.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
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.
