Category Archives: Luftwaffe

Deutschland / Germany

Fighter

Blohm & Voss Bv 155V-1 (Pegasus Models)

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TYPE: High altitude interceptor

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only, in pressurized cockpit

POWERPLANT: One Daimler-Benz DB 603A inverted V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine with Hirth TJ KL 15 turbo-charger, rated at 1,610 hp at 32,808 ft

PERORMANCE: 429 mph at 52,493 ft

COMMENT: The Blohm & Voss BV 155 was a high-altitude interceptor fighter intended to be used by the Luftwaffe against expected raids by USAAF B-29 Superfortresses.  The B-29 would attack in a cruise at an altitude that no German plane could operate effectively. In the hope of countering attacks by this formidable bomber, the Luftwaffe would need new fighters and new destroyers as soon as possible. Work on a special high altitude fighter was started in spring 1942 by Messerschmitt as Me 155, but in 1943 the project was passed over to Blohm & Voss. In September 1943, an order for five prototypes was placed. The first prototype was designated BV 155 V1, and flew for the first time on September 1, 1944. Tests with the V1 showed that the outboard radiators were not sufficiently effective in providing cooling, especially at high angle of attack. The intakes on the next prototype were enlarged and underslung beneath the wing rather than placed over it. However, the enlarged radiators caused a several problems, which required moving the pressurized cockpit forward. The Blohm & Voss team took this opportunity to replace the original Messerschmitt Bf 109G canopy with an aft-sliding all-round vision canopy, and the rear fuselage decking was cut down. This in turn required that a larger rudder be fitted. The ventral radiator bath was also enlarged. All these changes were incorporated into the second prototype, the Bv 155V2, which flew for the first time on February 8, 1945 and which was the first genuine B series aircraft. The Blohm & Voss team was still not satisfied with the design, and before the V2 began its flight trials they proposed that the engine be switched to the DB 603U having the larger mechanically driven supercharger of the DB 603E. The DB 603U promised a power of 1,660 hp for takeoff and 1,430 hp at 49,000 ft. The ventral turbo-super-charger was retained. The Technische Amt decided to accept this proposal, and abandoned all work on the BV 155B in favor of the revised design, which was designated BV 155C (Ref.: 17, 23)

Fighter, Projects

Focke-Wulf Fw P.0310225-127 (Unicraft, Resin)

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TYPE: Long-range fighter. Project.

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One Heinkel-Hirth HeS 021 turboprop engine, rated at 2,000 hp, plus 750 kp thrust

 PERFORMANCE: 560 mph in 29,500 ft

COMMENT: This Focke-Wulf design was powered by a He S 021 turboprop, located within the fuselage just behind the cockpit. The jet engine was fed by two air intakes located in each wing root. The wing was swept back 31 degrees and was mounted mid-fuselage, and the tail planes were also swept back. A tricycle landing gear arrangement was fitted. Armament was to be a single MK 103 30mm cannon firing through the propeller hub and two MG 213 20mm cannon in the lower forward fuselage. This project never left the drawing board. As far as the appearance of this project is concerned it definitively has influenced the outline of the post-war development McDonnell XF-88 “Voodoo” (Ref.: 16)

Fighter, Projects

Heinkel “Wespe” (“Wasp”) (Unicraft, Resin)

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TYPE: Target-defense interceptor. Project.

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only, in seated position

POWER PLANT: One Heinkel-Hirth HeS 021 turboprop engine, rated at 2,000 hp plus 750 kp thrust, driving six-blade propeller within a circular wing

PERFORMANCE: 497 mph

COMMENT: The Heinkel “Wespe” (“Wasp”) was designed in late 1944 as a Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) interceptor. It should be used as a “Punktverteidiger” (Target defense interceptor) to protect factory complexes and military facilities which only had small or no airfields. The idea goes back to early 1939, when Werner von Braun proposed a rocket driven aircraft (Braun fighter) that should vertically take-off from a truck on two guide rails. Although the scheme was discarded as impracticable by the RLM, later during the war the Fieseler Company prepared a series of interceptor design studies under the generic designation Fieseler Fi 166 (a rocket-driven aircraft on the tip of a Aggregat 4  (A4, better known as V2) as booster. Finally, in late spring 1944, the RLM issued a requirement for a small and inexpensive target-defense interceptor that led to the development of the Bachem Ba 349 “Natter”(Colubrid). Other companies followed such as the Heinkel Company with projects like He P.1077 “Julia I” and “Julia II”, or the propeller-driven VTOL-projects “Wespe” (Wasp) and “Lerche II” (“Lark”), or Focke-Wulf with its Fw “Treibflügeljäger”  (thrust-wing fighter).

To the Heinkel “Wespe”. The aircraft was designed around a circular wing, with small wing tips protruding beyond the circular wing at the two lower wing support locations.  A single Heinkel-Hirth HeS 021 turboprop, rated at 2,000 horsepower plus 750 kp thrust, was fed by an air intake located below the cockpit.  The “Wespe” took off and landed on three landing gear, the pilot sat in a normal seated position in the nose under a huge blown canopy, and two MK 108 30mm cannon mounted in blisters on each side of the cockpit were envisioned for the armament. Further development was abandoned due to the approaching war’s end. A more aerodynamic VTOL interceptor project, the Heinkel “Lerche” (Lark) was on the drawing board (Ref. 16, 17).

Fighter, Fighterbomber, Projects

Messerschmitt Me P. 1101/92 (Unicraft, Resin)

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TYPE: Heavy fighter, destroyer. Project.

ACCOMODATION: Pilot and Observer

POWER PLANT: Two Heinkel-Hirth HeS 011 turbojet engines, rated at 1,300 kp each

PERFORMANCE: 558 mph

COMMENT: Early in 1944, Messerschmitt undertook various design studies as part of the P.1101 project series. These designs had high speeds as their underlying concept and included aircraft with swing wings that could reach up to a 60 degree sweep back. The most famous of these projects and the one that almost reached flight testing was the Messerschmitt Me P.1101 V1. Among the Messerschmitt project studies was the Me P.1101/92 heavy fighter and destroyer, which was designed to carry a huge 75mm (3 inch) cannon as its main armament.  The Me P.1101/92 had a mid-fuselage mounted wing swept back at 40 degrees. Slung beneath each wing was a single Heinkel-Hirth HeS 011 turbojet engine, each developing 1300 kp of thrust. A V tail was mounted in the rear, and a tricycle landing gear arrangement was chosen. The two man crew sat staggered side-by-side. Armament consisted of the single large BK 7.5 cm cannon in the nose, offset to the right side of the aircraft. As a result of production and delivery problems of the engine manufacturer and the imminent collapse of the “Third Reich”, all further development was stopped (Ref.: 16).

Fighter, Projects

Messerschmitt Me 262A-2a with Lorin Ramjets (Matchbox and Scratch-built)

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TYPE: High-altitude interceptor. Project

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: Two Junkers Jumo 004B turbo-jet engines, rated at 890 kp each plus two Lorin ram-jets, rated at 1,350 kp each

PERFORMANCE: 714 mph (estimated)

COMMENT: Dr. E. Sänger, a convinced supporter of ram-jet powered aircraft, e. g. Skoda-Kauba SK P. 14-01 and SK P.14-02, proposed to increase the performance of a Messerschmitt Me 262 by integrating two additional Lorin ram-jets. The ram-jets, each 5.90 m long, were mounted above the wing resp. the turbo-jet engines, the air intake was 45.1, and the exhaust pipe 85 cm in diameter, respectively. It was calculated that the Me 262 could reach 48,557 ft within 11.5 minutes. Finally, this project was not pursued (Ref.: 19)

Fighter, Projects

Messerschmitt Me 109 TL (Planet, Resin)

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TYPE: Turbojet powered fighter. Project.

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: Two Junkers Jumo 004B turbojet engines, rated at 900 kp each

PERFORMANCE: No data available

COMMENT: In early 1943 during a conference led by the RLM it was proposed to reconstruct a Messerschmitt Bf 109 into a jet powered fighter. Because the airframe of the Bf 109 was not suited for such a modification it was decided to use the fuselage of a Messerschmitt Me 109H high-altitude fighter, the undercarriage of the Messerschmitt Me 309, and the wing of the projected Messerschmitt Me 409. Nevertheless, soon it became clear that too many parts had to be changed so after two month the project was cancelled (Ref.: 19).

Fighter, Fighterbomber, Projects

Blohm & Voss Bv P.203.01 (Unicraft, Resin)

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TYPE: Long-range fighter, fighter-bomber. Project

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of two

POWER PLANT: Two BMW 801D radial engines, rated at 1,750 hp each and two Junkers Jumo 003 turbo-jet engines, rated at 880 kp each

PERFORMANCE: 571 mph

COMMENT: This Blohm & Voss project from 1944 was designed as a general purpose/long-range fighter. The wing was straight and unswept, with the section between the two engine nacelles being thicker and having increased chord, to house the main wheels of the tricycle landing gear. Two BMW 801D radial engines were mounted at the forward end of the nacelles, and two Junkers Jumo 004 turbo-jet engines were located in the rear of the nacelles. Provision was made for use of other turbo-jet engines, e.g. BMW 003 (Bv P. 203.2) and Heinkel-Hirth HeS 011 (Bv P. 203.03) The aircraft was heavily armed including a remotely controlled twin MG 131 13mm machine guns in the tail firing to the rear. Due to the “Jägernotprogramm” (Fighter-emergency-programme) all work was cancelled (Ref: 23)

 

Fighterbomber, Projects

Messerschmitt Me P.1101/101, (Unicraft, Resin)

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TYPE:  Medium bomber. high-speed fighter bomber. Project.

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of two

POWER PLANT: Four Heinkel-Hirth He S 109-011, rated at 1,300 kp each

PERFORMANCE: 650 mph (estimated)

COMMENT: In 1944 the Heinkel-, Arado- and Messerschmitt Aircraft Companies proposed to the RLM designs of a medium bomber with high speed and high bomb load. Power units should be high performance piston engines, rated at 3,000 to 6,000 hp, turbojet engines with more than 2,500 kp thrust, or turboprops with more than 6,500 hp. In summary all designs were ahead of the times, including high-speed profiles, variable-sweep wings up to 60 degrees and high subsonic speed.
Messerschmitt proposed the project Me P.1101/101, a design out of a whole series of developments with the designation Me P.1101. It featured a long, tapered fuselage and was powered by four Heinkel-Hirth He S 109-011 turbo engines , two mounted below the nose and two at the tail. Armaments were to consist of four MK 108 30mm cannons in the nose plus remote-controlled turrets, and a bomb load of 3.000 kg. The designs most distinguishing features were its swing-wings, which would allow it to land on short runways while accelerating to near supersonic speeds during interception missions. However, like so many ambitious aircraft projects during this period, the Me.P.1101/101 never made it past the design stage. (Ref.:14)

Medium Bomber, Projects

Heinkel He P.1065 Ia (Unicraft, Resin)

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TYPE: Bomber, heavy fighter. Project.

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of three

POWER PLANT:Two BMW 801E radial engines, rated at 1,550 hp each

PERFORMANCE: 400 mph at 19, 685 ft (estimated)

COMMENT: In 1942 Heinkel Aircraft Company was working on concepts for a new multi-purpose aircraft, able to fulfill different operational duties. Seven designs were elaborated that differed in many aspects.
Four designs, proposed as ”Versions I”, were competitors of the Junker Ju 288. He P. 1065 Ia was a two-engine bomber or heavy fighter, powered by two BMW 801E, rated at 1,555 hp each or two Junkers Jumo 222C engines, rated at 2,600 hp each. “Version Ib” was a somewhat different bomber and powered by two Junkers Jumo 222C engines, rated at 2,100 hp each. All designs had tail units with twin fins and rudders. He P. 1065 Ic was a twin-engine fast bomber design, powered by two Daimler-Benz DB 609 engines, rated at 2,270 hp each and conventional tail fin and rudder. The design was forerunner of what was projected as Heinkel He 319 V1.
Heinkel He P. 1065 IIc was an asymmetric low wing airplane, comparable to the Blohm & Voss Bv 141, proposed as a fighter bomber and powered by either BMW 803, rated at 3,500 hp or Daimler-Benz DB 619 engines, rated at 4,540 hp.
Finally, “Version III”, was a further development of the Heinkel He 119 as a fast bomber.  He P. 1065 IIIb should be powered by one Daimler-Benz DB 619, rated at 4,450 hp and had a tail unit with twin fins and rudders. Heinkel He P. 1065 IIIc was powered by one Daimler-Benz DB 613, rated at 3,100 hp and had conventional tail fin and rudder. This project should be further developed into Heinkel He 519. None of the seven projects were realized (Ref.: 19)

 

Medium Bomber, Projects

Dornier Do 417 V1 (Unicraft, Resin)

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TYPE:  Medium bomber, long-range reconnaicance. Project.

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of four

POWER PLANT: Two BMW  801G engines, rated at  1,770 hp each

PERFORMANCE: 373 mph in 26, 247ft (estimated)

COMMENT: In 1942 the RLM called for proposals for an “Arbeitsflugzeug” (“Work aircraft” or general-purpose aircraft) used as horizontal- and dive-bomber, torpedo and missile-carrier as well as long-range reconnaissance. Invited were aircraft companies such as Blohm & Voss, Dornier, Heinkel, and Junkers. Blohm & Voss presented the Bv P. 163, Heinkel the He P.1065, Junkers the Ju 88E (which later became the Ju 188), and Dornier the Do 417. In December 1942 the decision was made in favor of the Dornier design and the prototype Do 417 V1 was scheduled for first flight in August 1943. Mass production should start in April 1944. The Do 417 V1 was powered by a BMW 801G engine, while in the Do 417 V2 Daimler-Benz DB 603A engines should be installed. Finally, for production-reasons and because of higher speed the Junkers Ju 188 was favored for production. (Ref.: 17)