Focke-Wulf Project I
Project I | |
---|---|
Role | Fighter |
Manufacturer | Focke-Wulf |
Status | Abandoned design study |
The Focke-Wulf Project I was a design study for a jet fighter, to be built in Germany during World War II. In 1942, the Reichsluftministerium (RLM) asked Professor Kurt Tank of the Focke-Wulf factory to investigate the possibility of a single-engine jet fighter. He was given the development plans of the BMW 003, Jumo 004 and Heinkel HeS 011 engines. Late in 1942 the Project Office, led by , began to work on a series of fighter projects, to be powered by one of these new turbojet units.
The first proposed design featured a BMW P.330 2 or Jumo 004 engine, positioned on the fuselage back. The pilot was situated in the fuselage nose, and underneath were four units of armament. Its mid-wing was swept forward and the V-tail was swept back. The mainwheels of the tricycle undercarriage were so positioned under the fuselage that they could lie between themselves, when retracted.
Specifications (as designed)[]
General characteristics
- Crew: one pilot
- Length: 10.50 m (34 ft 5 in)
- Wingspan: 8.20 m (26 ft 11 in)
- Wing area: 14.0 m2 (151 sq ft)
- Powerplant: 1 × turbojet , 5.9 kN (1,322 lbf) thrust
Performance
- Maximum speed: 800 km/h (500 mph, 430 kn)
- Endurance: 1 hours 30 minutes
- Service ceiling: 10,800 m (35,500 ft)
- Rate of climb: 11.0 m/s (2,165 ft/min)
Armament
- 2 × 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannons
- 2 × 15 mm (.59 in) MG 151 cannons
See also[]
References[]
- Lens, K.; H. J. Nowarra (1964). Die Deutschen Flugzeuge. Munich: J F Lehmans Verlag.
- Masters, David (1982). German Jet Genesis. London: Jane's Publishing.
- Myhra, David (1998). Secret Aircraft Designs of the Third Reich. Atglen: Schiffer. p. 142.
- Nowarra, Heinz (1983). Die deutsche Luftrüstung 1933-1945. Bonn: Bernard and Graefe. pp. Teil 2, p.114.
- Schick, Walter; Ingolf Meyer (1997). Luftwaffe Secret Projects: Fighters 1939-1945. Hinckley: Midland Publishing. pp. 52.
- Smith, J. R. (1973). Focke-Wulf: An Aircraft Album. London: Ian Allan.
- Smith, J. R.; A. Kay (1972). German Aircraft of the Second World War. London: Putnam.
- Wagner, Wolfgang (1980). Kurt Tank: Konstruckteur und Test Pilot bei Focke-Wulf. Munich: Bernard and Graefe.
- Abandoned military aircraft projects of Germany
- Focke-Wulf aircraft
- Single-engined jet aircraft
- Forward-swept-wing aircraft
- V-tail aircraft