A new German aircraft manufacturer, Horten Aircraft, will give its radical flying wing two-seater its world debut at AERO Friedrichshafen in April.

The aircraft has been in development for three years and a prototype has started flight tests at Eisenach Airfield with the approval of the German Federal Aviation Authority.

The design has no tail or fuselage – it’s all wing. The company name honours the visionary aircraft designer Dr. Ing. Reimar Horten (1915-1994), a pioneer in the field of flying wings along with Hugo Junkers.

“Due to its low aerodynamic resistance, the flying wing flies farther and faster than a comparable aircraft with a fuselage,” said Bernhard Mattlener, managing director of the company, which belongs to the LIFT Air group.

“The design of the airframe makes it easily adaptable for installing new propulsion technologies we anticipate will become available in the future.”

Horten Aircraft plans further developments, such as unmanned or multi-seat versions of its current prototype. The aircraft will be built at the company’s headquarters at Kindel Airfield near Eisenach.

Horten Aircraft