'Hitler's Stealth Fighter' on National Geographic - Aircraft of World War II

Butters · 04-14-2009, 01:27 PM

This looks like it might be fun. The folks at Northrop Grumman built a full-scale model of the Go 229 for RCS testing. The producer/director of the show is the same guy who did 'The Battle of the X-Planes', so chances are it will be a good one.

Stealth Shooter | Avenue

JL

sturmer · 04-14-2009, 01:44 PM

im actually looking forward to this show, it would be great to actually see how advanced the german technology was and it would even create more 'what if' scenario's.
and all that on a request of a dying friend, thats friendship my friends

Trebor · 04-14-2009, 02:09 PM

looks like it's gonna be lotsa fun to watch! I'll keep a watch on this thread to remind me to set a reminder. lol

Matt308 · 04-14-2009, 02:27 PM

Fun to watch, but historically silly. The Horton was not designed with Stealth as a high level requirement. It just happened to be a byproduct of the tailess design. Same as that of Jack Northrop's designs.

So reading the article where the primary thrust is determining if "...Nazi Germany invented the world’s first stealth fighter, beating the U.S. to the skies by 40 years with the development of radar-resistant aircraft?" is utter Hollywood revisionist history.

Trebor · 04-14-2009, 06:28 PM

yeah, good point, Matt. that got me too. I believe it's the way the F-117, B-2, and F-22 are designed. they look kinda like folded paper, almost. but I also think it's some kind of top secret material used by the government

gumbyk · 04-14-2009, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trebor

they look kinda like folded paper, almost. but I also think it's some kind of top secret material used by the government

From what I've heard, its more the paint/surface coatings used that absorb radar.

When they visited New Zealand, one of our guys (no-one knows who it was, obviously) put a squadron sticker on one. Apparently they had to repaint the whole aircraft!

A4K · 04-15-2009, 08:41 AM

With Matt.

The Horten brothers designed their flying wings with aerodynamics in mind - nothing to do with 'Stealth technology' at all.

Wurger · 04-15-2009, 05:00 PM

I agree with Matt and A4K.No advanced german technology at all.Simply a shape made with the aerodynamics rules.

GrauGeist · 04-15-2009, 09:43 PM

The Hortons (and Lippisch) had been working with a delta shape for quite some time, long before radar was effectively used as a wartime countermeasure.

I think the producers of this show went with this because of the sensationalism more than any historical coincidence.

Vassili Zaitzev · 04-15-2009, 10:08 PM

Sounds like it's entertaining, but historically inaccurate. I've found more info on WW2 aircraft here then the revisionit stuff Hollywood cranks out.

Soren · 04-16-2009, 04:25 PM

I'd still love to see the show, but I don't have the channel sadly.

Is it possible that someone could provide it for me ? I'd be most thankful

As for the Go-229, it was from the beginning designed for maximum lift, minimal drag, high ceiling & maximum endurance. The radar signature of the a/c wasn't even thought off to begin with. However I do remember reading that during one of the first flights of the jet powered prototypes the Horten brothers suddenly discovered, almost by accident, that the a/c had close to no radar signature at all. After this discovery some sort of radar absorbing material was to be fitted on the production model, which was 90% finished by the time the Allies captured it.

Butters · 04-17-2009, 01:59 PM

Yeah, yeah...I know that stealth was not a criteria behind the Go 229's design. And I suspect that the creators of the show know it as well.

Someone has gotta pay to make these shows, and given that the percentage of the population that is interested in late-war Luftwaffe projects is probably pretty small, it was natural to go for a wider audience with the 'Stealth' schtick...

Remember, what really counts is that WE get to see lots'a nice shots of a very cool little flying-wing fighter.

JL

RabidAlien · 04-17-2009, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butters

Remember, what really counts is that WE get to see lots'a nice shots of a very cool little flying-wing fighter.

JL

Heh. I'm with ya there!!!

GrauGeist · 04-17-2009, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soren

I'd still love to see the show, but I don't have the channel sadly.

Is it possible that someone could provide it for me ? I'd be most thankful

As for the Go-229, it was from the beginning designed for maximum lift, minimal drag, high ceiling & maximum endurance. The radar signature of the a/c wasn't even thought off to begin with. However I do remember reading that during one of the first flights of the jet powered prototypes the Horten brothers suddenly discovered, almost by accident, that the a/c had close to no radar signature at all. After this discovery some sort of radar absorbing material was to be fitted on the production model, which was 90% finished by the time the Allies captured it.

Another thing the Ho229/Go229 had in it's suggested "stealth" favor, was that it was made from a large percentage of non-metallic composite materials, much like the He162.

Early radar technology was more sensative to metallic materials than modern radar, which is why the early radar counter-measures were bundles of foil strips, wire peices or other metallic material (called Window or Düppel).

Soren · 04-19-2009, 01:39 AM

Roger that GrauGeist.

I wonder if this baby would've shown on radar

:

04-14-2009, 01:27 PM	#1
Butters Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Shore of Nova Scotia Posts: 304	'Hitler's Stealth Fighter' on National Geographic This looks like it might be fun. The folks at Northrop Grumman built a full-scale model of the Go 229 for RCS testing. The producer/director of the show is the same guy who did 'The Battle of the X-Planes', so chances are it will be a good one. Stealth Shooter \| Avenue JL

04-14-2009, 01:44 PM	#2
sturmer Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: antwerp Posts: 204	im actually looking forward to this show, it would be great to actually see how advanced the german technology was and it would even create more 'what if' scenario's. and all that on a request of a dying friend, thats friendship my friends __________________

04-14-2009, 02:09 PM	#3
Trebor Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,108	looks like it's gonna be lotsa fun to watch! I'll keep a watch on this thread to remind me to set a reminder. lol __________________ THANKS NJACO FOR THE SIG PIC!! Southern Comfort III of the 8th Air Force, 44th Bombardment Group. Captain George R. Insley (pilot) commanding, Rudolph Jandreau Engineer/top turret gunner

04-14-2009, 02:27 PM	#4
Matt308 aka Dickcheese Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 13,382	Fun to watch, but historically silly. The Horton was not designed with Stealth as a high level requirement. It just happened to be a byproduct of the tailess design. Same as that of Jack Northrop's designs. So reading the article where the primary thrust is determining if "...Nazi Germany invented the world’s first stealth fighter, beating the U.S. to the skies by 40 years with the development of radar-resistant aircraft?" is utter Hollywood revisionist history. __________________ "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.] Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan Master of Duplicate Posts

04-14-2009, 06:28 PM	#5
Trebor Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,108	yeah, good point, Matt. that got me too. I believe it's the way the F-117, B-2, and F-22 are designed. they look kinda like folded paper, almost. but I also think it's some kind of top secret material used by the government __________________ THANKS NJACO FOR THE SIG PIC!! Southern Comfort III of the 8th Air Force, 44th Bombardment Group. Captain George R. Insley (pilot) commanding, Rudolph Jandreau Engineer/top turret gunner

04-15-2009, 08:41 AM	#7
A4K Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 3,224	With Matt. The Horten brothers designed their flying wings with aerodynamics in mind - nothing to do with 'Stealth technology' at all.

04-15-2009, 05:00 PM	#8
Wurger Siggy Master Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Poland Posts: 13,967	I agree with Matt and A4K.No advanced german technology at all.Simply a shape made with the aerodynamics rules. __________________

04-15-2009, 09:43 PM	#9
GrauGeist Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Redding, California Posts: 3,346	The Hortons (and Lippisch) had been working with a delta shape for quite some time, long before radar was effectively used as a wartime countermeasure. I think the producers of this show went with this because of the sensationalism more than any historical coincidence. __________________ "Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future." - Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome > I Support Doug Gillis <

04-15-2009, 10:08 PM	#10
Vassili Zaitzev Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stafford Springs, Connecticut Posts: 2,221	Sounds like it's entertaining, but historically inaccurate. I've found more info on WW2 aircraft here then the revisionit stuff Hollywood cranks out. __________________ "Never was so much owed by so many to so few"- Winston Churchill.

04-16-2009, 04:25 PM	#11
Soren Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,107	I'd still love to see the show, but I don't have the channel sadly. Is it possible that someone could provide it for me ? I'd be most thankful As for the Go-229, it was from the beginning designed for maximum lift, minimal drag, high ceiling & maximum endurance. The radar signature of the a/c wasn't even thought off to begin with. However I do remember reading that during one of the first flights of the jet powered prototypes the Horten brothers suddenly discovered, almost by accident, that the a/c had close to no radar signature at all. After this discovery some sort of radar absorbing material was to be fitted on the production model, which was 90% finished by the time the Allies captured it. __________________ It was like being pushed by an Angel! - Adolf Galland I'm an educated engineer, so I love being technical and appraising of great inventions. So if you think I am being biased about something: Tell me! Then you'll probably find out that I am not Last edited by Soren; 04-16-2009 at 04:40 PM.

04-17-2009, 01:59 PM	#12
Butters Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Shore of Nova Scotia Posts: 304	Yeah, yeah...I know that stealth was not a criteria behind the Go 229's design. And I suspect that the creators of the show know it as well. Someone has gotta pay to make these shows, and given that the percentage of the population that is interested in late-war Luftwaffe projects is probably pretty small, it was natural to go for a wider audience with the 'Stealth' schtick... Remember, what really counts is that WE get to see lots'a nice shots of a very cool little flying-wing fighter. JL

04-19-2009, 01:39 AM	#15
Soren Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,107	Roger that GrauGeist. I wonder if this baby would've shown on radar : __________________ It was like being pushed by an Angel! - Adolf Galland I'm an educated engineer, so I love being technical and appraising of great inventions. So if you think I am being biased about something: Tell me! Then you'll probably find out that I am not Last edited by Soren; 04-19-2009 at 01:42 AM.

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