Most references I’ve seen claim that the enormous, out-of-scale nosewheel on the Horten 229 flying-wing prototype was “a tailwheel from a Heinkel He-177.”
Is this possible? Looking at photos of the Greif, it hardly seems so. More likely a He-177 main wheel and tire.
Anybody know for sure?
By: Stepwilk - 16th January 2016 at 14:13
Yes, I have good contacts there including the curator who will be in charge if their -229 restoration when it gets underway, but always like to get a basis of informed opinions before I talk to them.
By: Airfixtwin - 16th January 2016 at 13:09
Have you considered contacting NASM?
http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/horten-ho-229-v3/
By: Stepwilk - 16th January 2016 at 08:16
The Ho 229’s main gear is from a Bf 109. I’m talking about the nosewheel, which is typically said to be an He 177 tailwheel. Is it possible that a bomber has a tailwheel and tire that much bigger than a fighter’s?
By: DoraNineFan - 16th January 2016 at 00:22
Compare the Ho-229 main wheel with a surviving main gear assembly from an He-177. The wheel and hub are similar. As you said, it has been described that Gotha used an He-177 mainwheel when they designed the larger V3 example now at the NASM.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]243295[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]243296[/ATTACH]
By: Ossington - 15th January 2016 at 20:54
B-24 Liberator mainwheel.
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January 14, 2016 at 6:44 pm