Focke-Wulf Project I

Project I

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 HeS 011 engines. Late in 1942 the Project Office, led by Ludwig Mittelhuber, 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.3302 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 had sweep back. The main wheels of a 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 ft²)
Powerplant: 1 x— BMW P.3302 turbojet, 5.9 kN (1,322 lbf) thrust

Performance

Maximum speed: 800 km/h (500 mph)
Endurance: 1 hours 30 min
Service ceiling: 10,800 m (35,500 ft)
Rate of climb: 11.0 m/s (2,165 ft/min)

Armament

2 x— 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannons
2 x— 15 mm (.59 in) MG 151 cannons

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Masters, David (1982). German Jet Genesis. London: Jane's Publishing.
Myhra, David (1998). Secret Aircraft Designs of the Third Reich. Atglen: Schiffer. pp. 142.
Nowarra, Heinz (1983). Die deutsche Luftrx¼stung 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.

Focke-Wulf Project I Pictures

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Source: WikiPedia