Some of the most unusual German aircraft of World War 2, such as the Dornier Do 335 Pfeil (Arrow), or the Blohm & Voss Bv P.163, and the American Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster.
The Do 335 was a heavy fighter built by Dornier for Germany during World War II. The two-seater trainer version was called Ameisenbär ("anteater"). The Pfeil's performance was predicted to be better than other twin-engine designs due to its unique push-pull configuration and the lower aerodynamic drag of the in-line alignment of the two engines. It was Nazi Germany's fastest piston-engined aircraft of World War II. The Luftwaffe was desperate to get the design into operational use, but delays in engine deliveries meant that only a handful were delivered before the war ended.
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 13.85 m (45 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 13.8 m (45 ft 3 in)
Height: 5 m (16 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 38.5 m2 (414 sq ft)
Airfoil: root: NACA 23018-630; tip: NACA 23012-635
Empty weight: 7,260 kg (16,006 lb)
Gross weight: 9,600 kg (21,164 lb)
A-6 10,085 kg (22,234 lb)
Fuel capacity: 1,230 L (320 US gal; 270 imp gal) main fuel tank (single-seat) with various extra tankage in the weapons bay and wings, depending on the variant
Powerplant: 2 × Daimler-Benz DB 603E-1 V-12 inverted liquid-cooled piston engines, 1,342 kW (1,800 hp) each for take-off
1,417 kW (1,900 hp) at 1,800 m (5,900 ft)
Propellers: 3-bladed VDM, 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in) diameter constant-speed tractor and pusher propellers
Performance
Maximum speed: 763 km/h (474 mph, 412 kn) at 6,500 m (21,300 ft)
A-6 690 km/h (430 mph; 370 kn) at 5,300 m (17,400 ft)
Cruise speed: 685 km/h (426 mph, 370 kn) at 7,200 m (23,600 ft)
Economical cruise speed: 452 km/h (281 mph; 244 kn) at 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
Range: 1,395 km (867 mi, 753 nmi) on full internal fuel at max. continuous power
2,060 km (1,280 mi; 1,110 nmi) at economical cruise power
Service ceiling: 11,400 m (37,400 ft)
Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 55 seconds; 8,000 m (26,000 ft) in 14 minutes 30 seconds
Armament
Guns: 1 × engine mounted 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 103 cannon with 70 rounds plus 2 × 20 mm (0.79 in) MG 151/20 cowl-mount, synchronized autocannon with 200 rpg
Bombs: Up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) bombload in internal weapons bay and two underwing pylons
The Blohm & Voss P 163 was a design project for an unconventional bomber during World War II. Constructed mainly from steel, its crew were accommodated in large wingtip nacelles, giving it a triple-fuselage appearance. Its propeller drive system was also unusual, with the central fuselage containing twin engines coupled to a front-mounted contra-prop.
The P 163 was one of several highly unusual bomber configurations studied by the Blohm & Voss aircraft division under Chief Designer Richard Vogt. It was developed in response to a 1942 Luftwaffe requirement for a Heinkel He 111 replacement.
The Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster was an experimental bomber aircraft, designed for a high top speed. The unconventional approach was to mount the two engines within the fuselage driving a pair of contra-rotating propellers mounted at the tail in a pusher configuration, leaving the wing and fuselage clean and free of drag-inducing protrusions.
Two prototype aircraft were built, but the end of World War II changed priorities and the advent of the jet engine gave an alternative way toward achieving high speed.
Various offensive bomb loads were considered, between 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb) and 2,500 kilograms (5,500 lb). Large bombs would be recessed into the fuselage, while multiple smaller bombs would be carried under the wing, inboard the undercarriage.
General characteristics
Crew: 4
Length: 15.15 m (49 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 20.73 m (68 ft 0 in)
Height: 3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 55.30 m2 (595.2 sq ft)
Empty weight: 9,400 kg (20,723 lb)
Gross weight: 15,200 kg (33,510 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Daimler-Benz DB 613C 24-cyl. liquid-cooled twin inline piston engine, 2,833 kW (3,799 hp)
Performance
Maximum speed: 510 km/h (320 mph, 280 kn) at 7,000 meters (23,000 ft)
Range: 2,500 km (1,600 mi, 1,300 nmi)
Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
Wing loading: 275 kg/m2 (56 lb/sq ft)
Armament
Guns: multiple MG 151 installations
Bombs: 2,000 kg
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