The Horten H.IX, RLM designation Ho 229 (or Gotha Go 229 for extensive re-design work done by Gotha to prepare the aircraft for mass production) was a German prototype fighter-bomber designed by Horten brothers Reimar and Walter Horten to be built by Gothaer Waggonfabrik. Developed at a late stage of the World War II, it was one of the earliest flying wing aircraft to be powered by jet engines. The Ho 229 was designed in response to a call made in 1943 by Hermann Göring, the head of the Luftwaffe, for light bombers capable of meeting the 3×1000 requirement; namely, to carry 1000 kg of bombs a distance of 100 km with a speed of 1000 km/h. Only jet propulsion could achieve the required speed, but such engines were very fuel-hungry, necessitating considerable effort across the rest of the design to meet the range requirement. The flying wing configuration was favoured by the Horten brothers due to its high aerodynamic efficiency, as demonstrated by their V1 glider. In order to minimise aerodynamic drag, the Ho 229 was not fitted with extraneous flight control surfaces. Its ceiling was 15000 meters. The Ho 229 was the only design that came close to the requirements, and the Horten brothers quickly received an order for three prototypes after the project gained Göring's approval.Due to the Horten brothers' lack of suitable production facilities, Ho 229 manufacturing was contracted out to Gothaer Waggonfabrik however, the company allegedly undermined the project by seeking the favour of Luftwaffe officials for its own flying wing design. On 1 March 1944 the first prototype H.IX V1, an unpowered glider, made its maiden flight, followed by the H.IX V2, powered by Junkers Jumo 004 turbojet engines in December 1944. However, on 18 February 1945 the V2 was destroyed in a crash, killing its test pilot. Despite as many as 100 production aircraft being on order, none were completed. The nearly complete H.IX V3 prototype was…
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