What was the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet used for?
The only rocket propelled interceptor ever to be used operationally, the Me163 Komet was deployed by the Luftwaffe in a desperate attempt to combat the Allied strategic bombing offensive during the closing stages of the Second World War.
Did the Me 163 see combat?
Nonetheless, some Me 163s did see action. Typically, one or two Komets would dive down on Allied bomber formations in a hit-and-run attack, before gliding back to base, their fuel spent. It turned out the Me 163 was too fast to be a good bomber destroyer.
Why did the Me 163 have a propeller?
The Me 163 rocket engine used a fuel-and-catalyst steam generator to feed a turbine which in turn drove the dual fuel pumps via worm drives. This propeller directly drives a 2,000 watt, 24 volt, direct current generator to charge the 20 amp-hour storage battery secured in the nose of the aircraft.
What fuel did the Komet use?
Flying the Komet The Walter rocket motor which powered the Komet used two very dangerous fuels. These were concentrated hydrogen peroxide and a solution of methanol and hydrazine hydrate. These two fuels would explode on contact.
Are there any ME 163 still flying?
Reportedly, it has excellent flying characteristics. The glider is painted red to represent the Me 163 flown by Wolfgang Späte. As of 2011, it was still flying with the civil registration D-1636.
What was the fastest plane in ww2?
Messerschmitt Me 262
With a top speed of 540 mph, Germany’s Messerschmitt Me 262 was by far the fastest fighter of World War II. It was powered by jet engines, a new technology that was not always reliable. Still, the streamlined Me 262 looked—and behaved—unlike anything else in the skies over Europe, and Allied pilots initially feared it.
How many aircraft did the ME 163 shoot down?
Over 300 Komets were built, but the aircraft proved lackluster in its dedicated role as an interceptor and destroyed between 9 and 18 Allied aircraft against 10 losses….Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet.
| Me 163 Komet | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Messerschmitt |
| Designer | Alexander Lippisch |
| First flight | 1 September 1941 |
| Introduction | 1944 |
What was the most feared plane in WW2?
This plane came too late to have any effect on the outcome of the war. Junkers Ju87 Widely known as the “Stuka”, the Ju87 was one of the most feared aircraft during World War Two. It had a fearsome siren which terrified those who heard it.
Was the mosquito a good plane?
To go with its speed, the Mosquito also had an excellent operational range (1,800 miles) and ceiling (the Mk XV had a ceiling of 44,000 feet). With such qualities, the Mosquito was an excellent plane for photo reconnaissance and it started this task in September 1941.
Which ww2 plane had the most kills?
Within a very short span of just a couple of years, the F6F Hellcat claimed 75\% of all U.S. Navy air-to-air kills in the PTO. The Grumman F6F Hellcat claimed an impressive total of 5,168 victories.
Was the mosquito a fighter or bomber?
Mosquito, in full De Havilland DH-98 Mosquito, British twin-engine, two-seat, mid-wing bomber aircraft that was adapted to become the prime night fighter of the Allies during World War II.
What is the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet?
Jump to navigation Jump to search. The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet was a German rocket-powered interceptor aircraft. Designed by Alexander Lippisch, it is the only rocket-powered fighter aircraft ever to have been operational and the first piloted aircraft of any type to exceed 1000 km/h (621 mph) in level flight.
How dangerous was it to fly the Komet?
Even the most qualified and experienced Me 163 test pilot Heini Dittmar was not immune to the dangers of flying the Komet. During a test flight in November 1941 he stalled an Me 163A resulting in a heavy landing which badly injured his spine. Dittmar was apparently in hospital for a year following the accident!
What was the top speed of the German Komet?
German test pilot Heini Dittmar in early July 1944 reached 1,130 km/h (700 mph), an unofficial flight airspeed record unmatched by turbojet -powered aircraft for almost a decade. Over 300 Komets were built, but the aircraft proved lackluster in its dedicated role as an interceptor and destroyed between 9 and 18 Allied aircraft against 10 losses.
Why was the Me 163 rocket so dangerous?
Apart from the dangers associated with flying so fast, it was dangerous to fly at low speeds and during take-off and landing. The Me 163 used the highly volatile propellants of T-Stoff oxidizer (hydrogen peroxide) and C-Stoff (methanol-hydrazine) to create rocket fuel.