I.Ae. 34 Clen Antú
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1946 |
| Defunct | 1956 |
| Headquarters | Córdoba , Argentina |
The I.Ae. 34 Clen Antú, also referred to as the Horten XVa after its creator Reimar Horten, was a two-seat tailless glider developed in Argentina. Two single-seat versions participated unsuccessfully in the 1952 World Gliding Championships.
Design and development
From 1946 until 1956, the Fabrica Militar de Aviones in Córdoba, Argentina operated under the name Instituto Aerotecnico (I.Ae.). In this post-World War II era, it employed several former designers from Nazi Germany, including Émile Dewoitine, Kurt Tank, and the Horten brothers, with Reimar Horten renowned for tailless aircraft designs. The I.Ae.34 Clen Antú belonged to the Horten series of gliders and was smaller than both the Horten IV and Horten VI. The name Clen Antú translates to "Sun Ray" in Mapudungun. It was reportedly intended as an aerodynamic prototype for a four-engine flying wing transport, the I.Ae 38 Naranjero, although some accounts describe it as a training glider for aviation clubs.
The Clen Antú was a pure flying wing without a tail, featuring a central pod for occupants. Its wing had a high aspect ratio of approximately 17, swept back at 23.67o at the quarter chord line, lacking vertical stabilizers, and tapered to about 20% of the root chord at the tip with roughly 3.5o dihedral angle. Extensive control surfaces extended from the wingtip to mid-span and included airbrakes. The slender yet tall pod accommodated tandem dual controls within fully equipped cockpits: the front pilot sat near the leading edge beneath a canopy, while the rear pilot was positioned elevated and behind. The plywood pod ended with a flat oval shape to aid yaw stability and extended below the wing to house tandem wheels equipped with brakes and nose skids.
Its maiden flight took place on 20 June 1949. A total of four two-seat units were produced; one of these incorporated experimental control surfaces.
Additionally, two single-seat variants named I.Ae.34 M (denoting Monoplace) were created for participation in the Second International Glider Competition held in Madrid in 1952. Known during the event as Horten XV, these models featured smaller pods with pilots seated near midwing beneath removable wooden and glass fairings. Their landing gear consisted of a single wheel beneath the pod and a retractable nosewheel integrated into the wing’s leading edge. Weighing approximately 25 kg less than their two-seat counterparts, the I.Ae.34 M gliders did not achieve placement within the top twelve, which were largely dominated by Slingsby Sky sailplanes. Both suffered damage upon landing due to their extended undercarriage design; one withdrew before competition commencement, while the other was damaged and exited on day four.
Horten notation
According to some references using Horten’s classification system, the I.Ae. 34 corresponds to the Horten XVa, the I.Ae. 34 M is designated Horten XVb, and the I.Ae. 41 is known as Horten XVc.
Related Aircraft
Sources
- Notes
- Bibliography