Galleries

Fighter

Heinkel He 162A-2 “Spatz” (“Sparrow”), Stabsstaffel JG 1 (Revell)

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TYPE: Interceptor fighter

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One BMW 003E-1 turbojet, rated at 800 kp

PERFORMANCE: 521 mph at 19,690 ft

COMMENT: The so-called “Volksjäger (Peoples Fighter) project was started on September 8th, 1944 when the basic project requirements were issued by the Technisches Amt des RLM (Technical Office of the State Ministry of Aviation) and the Jägerstab (Fighter Staff) to several aircraft companies as Arado, Blohm & Voss, Fieseler, Focke-Wulf, Heinkel, Messerschmitt, and Junkers. It was envisaged a simple, inexpensive fighter, suitable for quantity production from easy-available materials by semi-skilled and unskilled labour. The Volksjäger was to be powered by a single BMW 003 “Sturm” (“Storm”) turbojet and had to be ready for mass production by January 1st, 1945.
Messerschmitt had refused to submit any proposal and nearly all other designs – e. g. Arado E 580, Junkers EF 123 – were found unsuitable. Only Blohm & Voss’s project Bv P.211 being adjudged the best of those submitted. On September 19th, a further conference was held at which all proposals were reviewed. This time the Siebel Aircraft Company took part instead of Messerschmitt. Again it was decided that the Blohm & Voss contender, the Bv P.211, was superior in every respect to all other contenders. But after misunderstandings and disputes it was decided that the Heinkel design He P.1073 was best suited for the future Volksjäger. Immediately construction of the P.1073 began, work on detailed drawings in parallel. In October 1944 the design was redesignated as He 162, code name “Spatz” (“Sparrow”). Orders were given for immediate quantity production with an output of 1,000 aircraft monthly. Within 90 days the He 162 was conceived, designed, built and flown. The first unit to train on the He 162 was the I Gruppe/JG 1. Only 320 He 162 were built before the end of the hostilities, 800 more had reached advanced stages of assembly. There are no veritable reports that the He 162 was involved in combat. (Ref.: 7)

Fighter, Fighterbomber

Nakajima Ki-84-I-Ko Hayate, 1st Chutai, 102nd Hiko Sentai (Hasegawa)

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TYPE: Fighter, Fighterbomber

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: Nakajima Ha-45 engine, rated at 1,990hp

PERFORMANCE: 392 mph at 20,080 ft

COMMENT: In June 1943 some of the first Nakajima Ki-84-Ia  Hayate of a service trials batch of 83 machines were handed over to the Tachikawa Army Air Arsenal for service tests. During flight trials the Ki-84 reached a top speed of 388 mph, climbed to 16,405 ft in 6 min 26 sec and reached a service ceiling of 40,680 ft, thus demonstrating the best performance of any Japanese aircraft suitable for immediate production. A second pre-production batch of 42 Ki-84s was built in April 1944 and in the following months more and more aircraft were delivered to several Sentai. In combat it became obvious that the Ki-84 was a formidable foe , comparing favourably with the best Allied fighters. (Ref.: 1)

Fighter, Fighterbomber

Nakajima Ki-84-Ia Hayate, Chutai 29th Hiko Sentai (Hasegawa)

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TYPE: Fighter, Fighterbomber

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One Nakajima Ha-45 engine, rated at 1,999 hp

PERFORMANCE: 392 mph at 20,080 ft

COMMENT: Undoubtedly the best Japanese fighter aircraft to see large-scale operation during the last years of war in the Pacific Area, was well protected, well armed, fast and manoeuvrable. The Ki-43 Hayabusas were just starting to fire their guns in anger when Nakajima was instructed to design their replacement. The specification called for an all-purpose, long-range fighter with high speed and capable of operating at combat rating for 1.5 hours. Design work was initiated in early 1942 and in March 1943 the first prototype was completed. Flight test began in April 1043 and after success under operational conditions the mass production of the aircraft war started as Army Type 4 Fighter Model 1A Hayate, or Ki-84-Ia. A total of 3,514 Ki-84s and derivatives were built, of which were 3,288 Ki-84-I and Nakajima Ki-84-II production aircraft as well as 3 Tachikawa Ki-106 prototypes, a wooden version of the Ki-84 Hayate. (Ref.: 1)

Fighter, Fighterbomber

Curtis XP-60C (Anigrand, Resin)

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TYPE: Interceptor, Fighter, Fighter-bomber

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One Pratt & Whitney R-2800-53 engine, rated at 2,000 hp

PERFORMANCE: 414 mph

COMMENT: In 1940 the Curtiss Aircraft Company proposed a new design for the eventual replacement for the Curtiss P-40. The new aircraft, the Curtiss XP-60, went through a long series of prototype versions with different engines. Installation of the British Rolls-Royce Merlin engines led to the development of the XP-53, soon redesignated XP-60. Delayed deliveries of the Merlin engines necessitated the installation of Wright (XP-63C) as well as Chrysler (XP-60B) engines. To improve the performance of the XP-60C the engine was changed again, this time a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 with contra-rotating propellers was installed. During its first flight the results were generally satisfactory. Changing the contra-props into a four-bladed propeller led to the XP-60E. But the performance was poorly, too,  and further work on this design was abandonded. (Ref.: 8)

Fighter

Lockheed XP-58 Chain Lightning (Anigrand, Resin)

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TYPE: Long-range escort fighter

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of two

POWER PLANT: Two Allison V-3420 engines, rated at 3,000 hp each

PERFORMANCE: 436 mph at 25,000 ft

COMMENT: The Lockheed XP-58 Chain Lightning was an American long-range fighter developed during WW II. Although derived from the successful Lockheed P-38 Lightning,  the XP-58 was plagued by technical problems with its various engines that eventually led to the cancellation of the project. Initially, the design was powered by two Continental IV-1430 engines. In July 1940, Lockheed decided to switch to Pratt & Whitney XH-2600 engines as the aircraft would be underpowered with the Continental engine. However, soon Lockheed was advised the development of the XH-2600 engine was terminated. So again engine alternatives were needed and the design was changed to use two Wright R-2169 Tornado engines. In February 1943, use of another engine, the Allison V-3420, was necessary due to poor progress with the Tornado engine development. Parallel to this the design was revised as a second crew member was added and the defensive armament was changed. Two turrets, one upper and the other lower on the fuselage, each  containing two .50 in machine guns, were installed and directed by a gunner in the rear fuselage. The XP-58 finally flew on 6 June 1944 for the first time, but after 25 test flights were completed and clarified many more problems further work on the XP-58 was reduced and in October 1944 the program was stopped and no further flights were done. The construction of the second prototype was abandoned. (Ref.: 23)

Fighter, Projects

Arado Ar TEW 16/43-15 (Unicraft, Resin)

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TYPE: Interceptor, fighter. Project

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One Heinkel He S 011 turbo-jet engine, rated at 1,300 kp, plus one Walter HWK 509A-2 liquid rocket engine, rated at 1,700kp

PERFORMANCE: 920 mph at 18,800 ft,  with rocket, 572 mph at 6.160 ft, jet engine only

COMMENT: In mid 1943, the Arado Aircraft Company draw up some studies into the future development of high speed fighters. Among the designs was an interceptor aircraft with a combination of both turbo-jet as well as rocket engine. This project, the Arado Ar TEW 16/43-15, had a single Heinkel He S 011 turbo-jet engine developing 1,300 kp of thrust, mounted atop the fuselage immediately behind the cockpit. To improve the climb rate and performance, a Walter HWK 509A bi-fuel rocket engine was also placed within the rear fuselage. The wings were swept back at 25 degrees, and because of the jet engine’s placement, a twin fin and rudder arrangement was provided. In order to achieve as much space as possible for fuel tanks a special landing gear arrangement was proposed. This was designed by the DVL (Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt, German Aviation Experimental Establishment). The main wheels were provided with small spherical tires of 12.5 inch in diameter, and were placed in tandem, thus the space needed when retracted was minimal. The nose and main wheels retracted forwards. The cockpit was located in the nose of the fuselage and guaranteed good front view, but vision to the rear was very poor due to the engine and air intake position. Due to these expected problems – same as with another Arado project, the Arado E. 580,  further work on this design was cancelled. (Ref.: 16; 18) 

Fighter, Projects

Junkers EF 123 (Unicraft, Resin)

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TYPE: Interceptor, fighter. Project

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One BMW 003A-1 turbo-jet engine, rated at 800 kp

PERFORMANCE: 550 mph (estimated)

COMMENT: In September 1944 the Junkers Flugzeugwerke (Junkers aircraft company) submitted a design EF 123 for the Volksjäger competition (People’s Fighter Project). Little is known about the design, only a photo of a model survived. The wings were similar to the Heinkel He 162 “Spatz”. Because the jet engine was placed below the fuselage a “normal” tailplane was provided. The RLM rejected the Junkers EF 123 in favour to the Heinkel He 162 and further work on the design was cancelled. (Ref.: 19; 21)

Fighter, Projects

Arado E 580 (Airmodel, Resin)

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TYPE: Interceptor, fighter

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One BMW 003A-1 turbo-jet engine, rated at 800 kp

PERFORMANCE: 470 mph (estimated)

COMMENT: This Arado design dates back to an early 1943s project of a small turbo-jet engine powered ground attack aircraft. In late 1944 this design was revised and submitted for the Volksjäger (Peoples Fighter) competition. The Ar E.580 had an unswept wing that was mounted low on the fuselage. The tail unit had twin fins and rudders. A single BMW 003A-1 jet engine was positioned above the fuselage with the air intake close to the cockpit partially obstructed by the bulged canopy. A tricycle landing-gear was provided. The winner of the competition was the Heinkel He 162 “Spatz” (“Sparrow”). So the Arado project was cancelled. (Ref.: 17)

Fighterbomber

Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly (Anigrand, Resin)

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TYPE: Heavy ground attack aircraft

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of two

POWER PLANT:  2 × Wright R-3350-43 Duplex Cyclone engines, rated at 2,300 hp each

PERFORMANCE: 370 mph at 17,000 ft

COMMENT: The Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly was a ground attack aircraft, fitted with a forward-firing 75 mm cannon with 20 rounds mounted in a fixed position on the nose to attack heavily armored targets such as tanks and bunkers. Additionally, there were two forward firing machine guns. Defensive armament consisted of remotely controlled ventral and dorsal turrets directed by periscope sights. The first prototype flew on 7 May 1944 and the aircraft proved satisfactory in all respects and better than expected. But after testing it became obvious it would not be ready for the projected invasion of Japan, and furthermore it used the same engines required by the Boeing B-29 Superfortress which had priority. So no orders were given and the XA-38 program was canceled after two prototypes had been completed. (Ref.: 23)

Fighter, Projects

Skoda-Kauba SK P.14-02 (Unknown, Resin)

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TYPE: Interceptor, Fighter. Project.

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only, in prone position

POWER PLANT: One Saenger-Lorin ram-jet

PERFORMANCE:  500 mph at 30,000 ft (estimated)

COMMENT: A similar interceptor project by Eugen Sänger from the Škoda-Kauba company was the Sk P.14-02. Compared to the Sk P.14-01 the design was smaller, had a shortened fuselage and the wings set in a more forward position. As its predecessor the Škoda-Kauba Sk P.14-02 took-off an a slightly lighter three-wheeled trolley, assisted by four Schmidding 109-533 solid-fuel rockets. Additionally the acceleration was needed to reach the speed where the ram-jet would work. The aircraft was landed on a retractable skid. Performance data were similar to the Sk P.14-01. None of the projected aircraft to fly on ramjet power were completed. (Ref.: 20)