Focke-Wulf Triebflügel
The Focke-Wulf Triebflügel, or Triebflügeljäger, literally meaning “thrust-wing hunter”, was a German concept for an aircraft designed in 1944, during the final phase of World War II as a defence against the ever-increasing Allied bombing raids on central Germany. It was a vertical take-off and landing tailsitter interceptor design for local defense of important factories or areas which had small or no airfields.
The Triebflügel had only reached wind-tunnel testing when the Allied forces reached the production facilities. No complete prototype was ever built.
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Length: 9.15 m (30 ft 0 in)
- Wingspan: 11.5 m (38 ft 0 in)
- Gross weight: 2,500 kg (5,200 lb)
- Powerplant: 3 × Pabst ramjets, 8.9 kN (2,000 lbf) thrust each
- Powerplant: 3 × Walter liquid fuel rockets
- Powerplant: 2 × standard German Walter 109-501 RATO units , 14.71 kN (3,306 lbf) thrust each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 1,000 km/h (621 mph, 540 kn)
- Never exceed speed: 2,700 km/h (1,730 mph, 1,500 kn)
- Minimum control speed: 230 km/h (150 mph, 130 kn)
- Service ceiling: 15,300 m (50,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 50 m/s (160 ft/min)
Armament
- Guns: 2 × 30 mm MK-103 each with 100 rounds + 2 × 20 mm MG-151 each with 250 rounds