Flight testing of the Horten H VII (Ho 254)
In early May 1944, the machine is completely assembled at Peschke and held the system checks have. In Göttingen was then on 24 In May 1944 the first flight, the Walter Horten conducted. The machine was like a good flight characteristics, it is suggested only been to the aforementioned problems with the tongue rowing. Reimar Horten really wanted the machine finally be carried out wind tunnel tests in Adlershof, but this was not for reasons of capacity, as the machine did not have a special war-crucial priority. Goering was in his capacity as head of the Luftwaffe necessarily see a hoard airplane in flight, then what happened in September 1944 in Oranienburg also. Colonel Siegfried Knemeyer, the head of the RLM test flew the machine in person. When Goering wanted to see but also a Einmotorenflug, this led Heinz Scheidhauer, the actual Test Pilot at Horten, because it significantly with the machine was familiar. Goering was so obviously happy and prompted the construction of a series of 20 machines at the company Peschke in Minden, which should be used as a fighter trainer for the crews. The testing of the Argus-Schmidt tube was no longer pursued, especially as this indeed in the Fieseler Fi 103 wing bomb (V1) has been used in large numbers. He also discussed with Reimar Horten the possibilities of a jet-propelled aircraft Hort, the later H IX, which should be used as a bomber. After some teething problems were eliminated, showed the H VII very good flight characteristics and impressed all who flew with her. The Horten's detail has now finally moved to Göttingen, while personnel by 30 new employees, engineers, draftsmen and craftsmen intensified. To care for the serial construction at the company Peschke Flugzeugbau two engineers and two drafters of Göttingen were sent to Minden.
Horten H VII (Ho 254) (Archive: Eberhard wreath)
The Horten H VII (Ho 254) after the end of war
When the war ended there, the H VII V2 were nearly completed and produced by the V3 wesendliche parts. The series machines should receive absprengbare emergency propeller and rudder were held his tongue replaced by turns, the upward and downward spoilers. The H VII V1 remained until February 1945 in Oranienburg and was also flown so are flights from Erwin Ziller of 25 to 30 January 1945 documented. End of February Heinz Scheidhauer convicted then the machine to Göttingen, where because of a hydraulic failure, the machine was damaged during the landing. Until the occupation by American troops on 7 Göttingen April 1945 was the H VII V1 will not back to airworthy condition.
, the fate of the aircraft is unknown, probably it was destroyed by a cleanup under U.S. responsibility.
Horten H VII (Ho 254) (Archive: Eberhard wreath)
Specifications: Horten H VII (Ho 254)
Country: Germany
Application: Experimental aircraft
engines: two air-cooled suspended eight-cylinder in-line engines with adjustable two-bladed wooden propeller Argus
starting power: the 240 hp (177 kW)
continuous power: 200 hp (147 kW) at 3,000 meters
Crew: 2 men
first flight: 24 . May 1944
Wingspan: 16.00 m
Length: 7.40 m
maximum height: 2.62 m
Wide wing center section: 4.04 m
Sweep angle of the leading edge: 40 °
Trapezoidal ratio: 8.0
Root thickness: 5.50 m
Root depth: 0.42 m
Fin spacing: 0.40 m (0.20 m at the leading edge)
Gauge: 2.38 m
Track width of both front wheels: 0.70 m
Wheelbase: 2.32 m
Propeller diameter: 2.00 m
Propeller area: 3,14 m²
Wing area: 44.0 m²
V-shape of the outer wing: 4 °
Aspect ratio: 5.82
Empty weight: 1550 kg
Normal takeoff weight: 2000 kg
Maximum take-off weight: 2120 kg
Fuel tank capacity: 300 liters
Lubricant tank: 36 liters
Wing loading: 48.18 kg / m²
Power load: 4.42 kg / hp (6.01 kg / kW)
Speed ​​close to the ground: 328 km / h
Maximum speed of 3,500 m: 355 km / h
Cruising speed at 3,500 m: 300 km / h
Maximum line speed: 550 km / h
Start speed: 100 km / h
Landing speed: 77 km / h
Ceiling: 7850 m
Climb: 8.3 m / s
Rise time at 1,000 m: 2.1 min
Rise time at 3,000 m: 7.5 min
Normal range: 580 km
Reach a maximum of: 660 km (economy flight)
Flight duration: 2.2 hours
Take-off distance 380 m
Landing distance: 440 m
