Originally Posted by
PDR1
Not sure that stands much scrutiny. Horten's concept still relied on cambered sections with washout/reflex to provide a positive static margin, which generates lots of (parasitic) trim drag and a low Mcrit. Northrop's approach was fundamentally different in using non-cambered sections that had minimal pitching moment so the desired static margin was achieved with far less trim drag and a higher Mcrit. Horten DID think up the idea of using a bat-tail to prevent mid-span airflow stagnation (and consequent unpredictable wing-drop at the stall), so that feature was more advanced, but the general concept of the N9 and XB35 was arguably much more advanced.
€0.00008 supplied,
PDR