Descriptive Finding Guide for the Horton Wingless V-16 Special Collection SDASM.SC.10075
Alan Renga
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
12/04/2014
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Horton Wingless V-16 Special Collection
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10075
Physical Description:
0.3 Cubic Feet
1 Box
Date (inclusive): 1952-1997
Abstract: The Horton Wingless aircraft was invented by William Horton of Huntington Beach, California in 1952. He called the strange-looking
plane “wingless” because he claimed the entire craft was a simple air foil with vertical fins and utilized all surfaces for
lift.
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
One Box of Materials related to the Horton Wingless Airplane. Copyright, Stock Certificate and misc documents are included
in the Collection.
The Horton Wingless aircraft was invented by William Horton of Huntington Beach, California in 1952. He called the strange-looking
plane “wingless” because he claimed the entire craft was a simple air foil with vertical fins and utilized all surfaces for
lift. Unfortunately, Horton did not have the money to develop it, but was able to get into a partnership with billionaire
Howard Hughes and Harlow Curtis.
The plane was test-flown but not more than 1000 feet down the runway. The venture failed not because the airplane didn't
fly, but because Hughes wanted to take full credit for the patents and production rights, which Horton refused to allow.
Hughes sued Horton which effectively stopped any further development of the aircraft.
Hughes managed to have the prototype and partially-constructed production version destroyed. One aspect of the law suit was
a statement that the aircraft could not fly, which witnesses, photographs and video obviously show not to be true. At one
point, Horton served jail time for selling stock in a company for an airplane that "couldn't fly" and had several violent
confrontations with people associated with Hughes and Curtis because of the law suit and resulting injunctions."
SDASM Aircraft Subject Files.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Horton Wingless (1952)
William E. Horton (Firm)
Hughes, Howard, 1905-1976
Horton, William E.
Box 01
Item 01 – Horton Poster
Folder 03 – Stock Certificate