Hostile Skies Horton Ho 229 Guide
The Axis flying-wing fighter: dodge flak, win TDM, and stay alive.
The Horton Ho 229 is the late-war Axis flying-wing fighter in Hostile Skies, and the Hostile Skies fandom community consistently rates it as one of the best Team Deathmatch planes on the Axis side. The reason is the airframe: it is a flying wing with no fuselage and no vertical tail, which makes its hitbox almost invisible to the anti-aircraft flak cannons that normally shred Axis props. If you have ever lost a FW 190 D-13 to a flak burst while flying level over the enemy base, the Ho 229 fixes that problem.
What the Horton Ho 229 is good at
The Ho 229 is a flying-wing boom-and-zoom fighter. Its top speed is competitive with the Me 262, its roll rate is the best of any Axis prop or jet, and its unique flying-wing profile makes it almost immune to the AI flak cannons that defend capture points and bases. The trade-off is structural: the wing tips snap off if you pull more than 8 G at low speed, and you cannot flat-turn with a Spitfire Mk IX.
In practice the Ho 229 is the safest Axis pick for TDM, base defense, and base attack. Keep the speed above 380 km/h and avoid sharp pull-ups and the plane flies like a stable energy fighter with a stealth bonus. Slow down and the airframe snaps and you lose the plane in under a second.
For a quick history reference, the Plane tier list ranks the Ho 229 in A-tier for v3.5.1, just below the Phantom jet. The Axis vs Allied guide covers how the Ho 229 fits into the broader Axis lineup. If you want the air combat basics before you fly it, read the How to fly guide and the Turn vs energy fighting page first.
Why the Ho 229 is the best TDM Axis plane
TDM in Hostile Skies is decided by three things: time on target, kill uptime, and flak avoidance. Most Axis fighters lose on flak avoidance because the AI flak cannons track the fuselage and the wings as separate targets, and a flat-flying FW 190 or Bf 109 gets chunked the moment it crosses the enemy base. The Ho 229 gets around this because the flying-wing profile registers as a single, narrow target to the flak tracking system, so bursts miss more often than they hit.
The other reason the Ho 229 wins TDM is the roll rate. The default roll rate is higher than the FW 190 D-13 and almost matches the Me 262, so a defensive barrel roll the moment an Allied turn fighter lines up on your six dodges the burst more often than not. Pair the roll rate with the flak profile and you stay alive through engagements that would delete an FW 190.
The final reason is loadout flexibility. The Ho 229 can mount the MK 108 30 mm cannons for bomber hunting or the MG 151/20 20 mm cannons for TDM dogfighting. The MG 151/20 loadout is the standard TDM pick because it has more rounds per magazine and a faster reload.
How to unlock the Horton Ho 229
The Ho 229 unlocks at level 48 for 180,000 credits. It is one of the most expensive Axis unlocks between the FW 190 D-13 and the Phantom, so plan your credit sink around it.
The fastest unlock path is:
- Stay on the FW 190 D-13 until level 48. Do not waste credits on cosmetic upgrades because you will sell the D-13 the moment the Ho 229 unlocks.
- Run the How to earn gold fast routes from level 35 onward so you have the 180,000 credits banked before you hit the unlock level.
- Redeem every active code on the Active codes page the day you hit level 48. The codes drop credit boosts that stack with your saved credits.
- Buy the Ho 229 the second you unlock it. The cost does not decrease over time, but the credit boosts only stack on the day of purchase.
If you are below level 35, see the How to unlock planes page for the full Axis unlock ladder.
Upgrade order for the Ho 229
The Ho 229 has four upgrade slots: engine, guns, airframe, and wings. Because the Ho 229 is a flying wing, the upgrade priorities differ from a conventional prop:
- Engine — the Ho 229 needs sustained speed to keep the wing tips from snapping. Max engine first.
- Guns — the default MG 151/20 is accurate but underpowered against late-game Allied props. Max guns second so your bursts actually threaten Spitfires and P-51s.
- Airframe — extra HP helps you survive the rare return fire you do take. Max airframe third.
- Wings — wings on a flying wing do almost nothing for roll rate. Max wings last as a vanity upgrade.
Each upgrade costs between 22,000 and 38,000 credits. Plan on saving an extra 110,000 credits on top of the 180,000 unlock cost if you want to fly the Ho 229 fully maxed.
How to fly the Ho 229
The Ho 229 rewards energy fighting and roll rate. It does not reward turn fighting. The flying-wing profile gives you a roll rate that lets you dodge return fire without bleeding speed, and the energy retention lets you boom-and-zoom like a heavier FW 190. You never, ever try to flat-turn with a turn fighter in an Ho 229.
The standard Ho 229 engagement loop is:
- Find a target that is flying level or turning gently below you.
- Roll inverted, pull the nose down to build energy, and roll back upright as you close range.
- Fire a single burst between 350 and 550 m. The default convergence is set for this window.
- Roll away from the target’s six o’clock instead of pulling up. The roll rate lets you dodge return fire without losing energy.
- Extend away in the dive, repeat the pass until the target is dead or the fight has separated.
The most common Ho 229 mistake is pulling up after the burst. As soon as you pull up you bleed speed, and below 380 km/h the wing tips can snap if you pull more than 8 G. The How to fly guide covers the same idea in more detail; the Turn vs energy fighting page explains when each style works.
How to fight the Me 262
The Me 262 (Axis jet added in v3.4.2) out-runs the Ho 229 by about 60 km/h and out-climbs it. In a straight fight the Ho 229 loses. The way to beat an Me 262 in an Ho 229 is to drag the fight into a turning fight below 2,000 m, where the Me 262’s high-speed handling falls off and the Ho 229’s roll rate lets you track the jet through scissors.
The opening pass matters more than the rest of the fight. If you bounce an Me 262 from above with energy, you have a real chance. If you let an Me 262 set the engagement altitude, the Me 262 wins. For the broader dogfight tactics, see the Me 262 guide and the How to shoot down bosses target-priority rules.
Best events to farm in the Ho 229
The Ho 229 is the best Axis TDM and base-attack farmer in the game. Its flak profile keeps it alive over capture points, and its gun loadout kills bots faster than any prop except the Me 262.
The best event rotation for the Ho 229 is:
- Base Assault — the Ho 229’s flak profile lets you stay over the enemy base longer than any prop. Bring the MG 151/20 loadout and aim for the bonus-tier kill threshold.
- King of the Hill — the roll rate lets you dodge return fire from the hill defenders and stay in the capture circle for the full timer.
- Bomber Run — the Ho 229’s speed lets you reach the bombers before the escorts, and the MG 151/20 loadout one-clips a medium bomber with a single burst.
For the full event rotation, see the Event schedule page. The Active codes page lists the credit-boost codes that stack with event payouts.
When to switch off the Ho 229
Switch off the Ho 229 the moment you unlock the Phantom jet. The Phantom is the Axis apex through at least v3.6 and dominates every role the Ho 229 fills except pure turn fighting. If you play TDM, the Phantom out-DPS you in a sustained burst. If you play base attack, the Phantom out-runs you above 700 km/h.
The Ho 229 remains the second-best Axis fighter and the safest Axis pick for new pilots who want to learn energy fighting with a forgiving airframe. Keep it upgraded as your backup until you have the Phantom maxed.
For the full unlock ladder, see the How to unlock planes guide. For which fighter to switch to once you have credits, see the Plane tier list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Is the Horton Ho 229 the best TDM plane in Hostile Skies?
On the Axis side, yes. The flying-wing profile dodges AI flak better than any conventional Axis prop, and the roll rate is the best of any Axis fighter. It sits in A-tier overall, just below the Phantom jet.
Why does the flying-wing profile dodge anti-air flak?
The AI flak tracking system treats the Ho 229 as a single narrow target because there is no separate fuselage and no vertical tail. Burst spreads that would chunk a conventional prop miss the Ho 229 more often than they hit.
What is the best gun loadout for the Ho 229 in TDM?
The MG 151/20 20 mm cannons. They have more rounds per magazine and a faster reload than the MK 108 30 mm, and the burst damage is enough to kill Allied props in one clip. Use the MK 108 only for bomber-hunting events.