Reimar Horten Biography in Images

<p>Born in Germany in the year 1915 during the First World War Reimar Horten showed from a very early age to be a<br />child prodigy. His passion for flight would over time turn him into one of the most accomplished aircraft designers of<br />the 20th century.<br />At only 23 years of age he built and flew a glider that adopted the revolutionary structure of the flying wing profile<br />unique within its genre. His hand held by the father of fluid dynamics theory the legendary Ludwig Prandtl he perfected<br />the calculation of flying wing lift turning them into perfect flying machines.<br />A few months before the end of the Second World War he constructed a jet aircraft a machine considered by many to<br />be the most sophisticated of its day the Ho IX. It was during this period that like his colleague the eminent Alexander<br />Lippisch he began the construction of the first aircraft in history specifically designed to break the sound barrier.<br />Starting with the German defeat in May 8th 1945 Horten was not only forgotten but also scrubbed from the partisan<br />official history of aviation. His most advanced designs were swiftly confiscated by the winners who capitalized and<br />arrogantly took credit for his technological advances.<br />Barely and only superficially known is the vast production of aircraft that took place post war in Argentina at the Cordoba<br />Military Aircraft Factory. It was during the last years of his life that he designed the general lines and basic concepts<br />of what would become the most expensive and sophisticated design of the 20th century the B-2 Stealth Bomber.<br />Through this publication the author and his collaborators intend to elevate without omission or subterfuge Reimar<br />Horten's rightful place in the history of world aviation. He was without a doubt a formidable pioneer in the conquest<br />of the air.</p>