Heinkel He 280
The Heinkel He 280 was the first turbojet-powered fighter aircraft in the world. It was inspired by Ernst Heinkel’s emphasis on research into high-speed flight and built on the company’s experience with the He 178 jet prototype. A combination of technical and political factors led to it being passed over in favor of the Messerschmitt Me 262. Only nine were built and none reached operational status.
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 10.198 m (33 ft 5.5 in)
- Wingspan: 11.99726 m (39 ft 4.333 in)
- Height: 3.1941 m (10 ft 5.75 in)
- Wing area: 21.51 m2 (231.5 sq ft)
- Airfoil: root: 13%; tip: 9%
- Gross weight: 5,205 kg (11,475 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Junkers Jumo 109-004A Orkan axial-flow turbojet engines, 8.24 kN (1,852 lbf) thrust each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 751.5 km/h (467.0 mph, 405.8 kn) at sea level 817.5 km/h (508.0 mph; 441.4 kn) at 6,000 m (19,685 ft)809.5 km/h (503.0 mph; 437.1 kn) at 8,501 m (27,890 ft)
- Range: 615 km (382 mi, 332 nmi) at 9,010 m (29,560 ft) 314 km (195 mi; 170 nmi) at sea level
- Service ceiling: 11,400 m (37,390 ft)
- Rate of climb: 21.2 m/s (4,170 ft/min)
- Thrust/weight: 0.32
Armament
- Guns: 3 × 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon