Henschel Hs P.130

History

During World War II, Henschel, a German company, contributed to the Luftwaffe by designing aircraft. In 1944, amidst mounting casualties and Allied bombing losses, Henschel proposed a series of "tailless" single-seat fighter jets with rear-mounted multi-blade engines. One of these designs was the P.130, a somewhat radical concept for its time. It featured a cockpit located behind the nose cone, housing four automatic cannons for bomber destruction. The tailless configuration meant it had only one rudder and no horizontal plane. The aircraft was to be powered by two Daimler-Benz DB603 series engines, collectively known as "DB613," delivering a total power output of 3,500 horsepower.

However, despite promising performance, the tailless concept faced hurdles. The Air Force authorities were skeptical about a rear-mounted fighter propeller, and the war effort diverted crucial resources away from pursuing new fighter concepts. While some wind tunnel testing was conducted, none of Henschel's proposed tailless aircraft progressed beyond that stage. The P.130 remained an unrealized project, and the company's focus shifted to other priorities dictated by the wartime circumstances.

Ultimately, the P.130's innovative design and potential advantages were overshadowed by the challenges of wartime production and the conservative mindset of Air Force authorities. Despite engineers' readiness to further develop the concept, the tailless aircraft never saw meaningful progress, remaining a forgotten piece of aviation history.

Henschel Hs p. 130 Code

Basics

Years of Service: 1944

Origins: Nazi Germany

Status: Cancel

Crew: 1

Production: 0

Manufacturer: Henschel - Nazi Germany

Roles

Air-to-air combat, fighter

The general ability to actively attack other aircraft of similar form and function, usually using guns, missiles and/or airborne missiles.

X-Plane (development, prototyping, tech demos)

Aircraft designed for prototyping, technology demonstration, or research/data collection.

Dimensions and Weight

Length: 32.8 feet (10.00m)

Width/span: 32.8 feet (10.00m)

Height: 14.1 ft (4.30m)

MTOW: 15,873 lbs (7,200 kg)

Performance

Installed: 1 x Daimler-Benz DB 613 (2 x Daimler-Benz DB 603 coupled engines) 3,500 hp engine.

Maximum speed: 466 km/h (750 km/h | 405 knots)

Maximum rate of climb: 32,808 feet (10,000m | 6km)

Weapon

Possible: 4 x 30mm MK 108 guns in forward fuselage (two pairs of two guns).