Only the Wing: Reimar Horten's Epic Quest to Stabilize and Control the All-Wing Aircraft

by Russell Lee

In the late 1920s, Reimar Horten started experimenting with flying models equipped with fuselages, stabilizers, rudders, and elevators, but his life's work involved systematically removing these components from the models until he could achieve flight with only the wing. Not only were the pure wings more difficult to design with the stability and control needed to fly, they were harder to place in practical roles not already filled by conventional aircraft operating for less support and operational costs. Always seeking to increase performance and efficiency, Horten adopted a multi-disciplinary approach after flying his first piloted wing in 1933, eventually breaking new ground in cockpit design and construction materials. His most important innovation was the unique pattern he developed to distribute the lift over his wings, the result of his efforts to refine the aerodynamic control of all-wing aircraft, often while working alone and in difficult circumstances. Two days after he passed away in 1993, the Royal Aeronautical Society awarded Reimar Horten the British Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Aeronautics.

312 pages, Hardcover

First published May 16, 2011

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting. I must admit I was expecting more depth in the aerodynamics. After getting into the book the story of how Reimar Horten developed his all wing aircraft and how he did persevere in his quest, often against odds was fascinating. I was surprised to learn of the ongoing development of flying wing sailplanes during WW II in Nazi Germany.
There was some discussion of how Reimar Horten did obtain stability and control of all wing aircraft. I wonder what he could have done with modern composites and his designs.
For more details on the math and aerodynamics of flying wings, I checked
out a copy of Nickel and Wohlfart's tailless Aircraft in Theory and Practice.

[Shrike58 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What one has here is a dispassionate analysis of just what Reimar Horten's flying wings were capable of, separated from the mythology of German wonder weapons that arrived too late to really impact the war. Paying close attention to Horten's efforts to refine the aerodynamics of all-wing aircraft, Lee concludes that the man made some real advances but these were still insufficient to truly transcend the built-in instability of the platform prior to the development of fly-by-wire technology. Lee also notes that Horten was sometimes his own worst enemy, having the true-believer's unwillingness to listen to the bad news about some of his enthusiasms.

Originally written: October 14, 2018.

[Philip Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a well researched, very specific historical account of a German aeronautical designers attempts to master the all wing aircraft. It is perfect source material for my work in progress.