Focke-Wulf Triebflugel

History of Focke-Wulf Triebflugel

During World War II in 1944, against the backdrop of evolving turbojet technology and German desperation, engineers built their drive on the resulting The relatively fledgling territory was among some of the groundbreaking - and some forgotten - fighter designs of the time. One such product is the "Triebflugel" - "Thrust Wing Hunter" - a unique vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) interceptor concept.

With relative improvements in efficiency and reliability, turbojets are finally giving aviation visionaries the opportunity to realize "tail-seat" aircraft - an interception solution that can be deployed immediately.

In fact, the intriguing engine wings were used to intercept Allied bomber regiments, and their presence was felt throughout the war, day and night. Their damage was so great that much of the infrastructure and combat capability was often lost in the attack, so the Luftwaffe had to respond decisively.

The Focke-Wulf approach uses a single-seat cockpit with the crew at the front of the design, under a light-framed teardrop canopy. The fuselage is generally tubular, with a tapered nose and tail.

One of the more interesting features of this concept is the lack of a traditional main wing aircraft - what appears to be three wings arranged around the fuselage (near the midship) are actually oversized propeller blades with rams attached to the tips nozzle. The blades - which can be tilted - rotate about a central axis buried in the fuselage, providing the aircraft with initial vertical lift and subsequent forward flight.

With this arrangement, the rotating blades lift the aircraft to an acceptable and safe transition altitude, and once power is gained, it can fly forward as a conventional propeller (same concept as used in the modern McDonnell Douglas AV-8B "Harrier II", but In pure turbofan power form with positioned exhaust/engine).

The propeller blades will be assisted by a ramjet mounted on the tip, but since the general function of a ramjet requires a minimum operating speed, an expendable rocket motor will be used first to raise the propeller to a speed where the ramjet can take over and run in the hull Operate the drive blades around. The proposed aircraft will carry a variety of propulsion systems: 3 x Pabst ramjets, each rated at 2,000 pounds of thrust, 3 x Walther rocket motor units, and 2 x Walther 109-501 units, each rated at 3,306 pounds of thrust.

The tail has a cruciform fin arrangement, and each aircraft has small landing legs with casters for tailstock function. These planes doubled as elevators and rudders during flight, while adding a large wheel to the actual fuselage that acted as the main landing gear legs and carried most of the plane's weight when at rest.

All legs should be retractable for streamline and airflow efficiency.

Landing will be a nerve-wracking affair, requiring special training - especially if the pilot's seat position is not rotated relative to the fuselage axis; it remains fixed and forward-facing like a conventional aircraft . Speed ??control is critical because flying too slowly and losing lift can cause immediate problems for the pilot. Conversely, it is also easy to land too quickly and lose control, resulting in airframe damage and pilot injury.

The pilot should place his aircraft in a vertical position (cockpit facing up) and slowly reduce lift until a full, controlled descent is achieved - all through visual and physical queuing of the aircraft and its surroundings . Throughout, giant spinning blades can be seen between the pilot looking over his shoulder and the ground - making the action even more challenging.

For scheduled intercept missions, Triebflugel plans to have 2 x 30mm MK 103 automatic cannons (100 rounds each) and 2 x 20mm MG 151 automatic cannons (250 rounds each). This gave the aircraft considerable firepower against the heavy strategic bombers of the time.

These guns were also all angled downward to more effectively shell slower bomber formations.

As planned, the powered wing had a barrel length of 30 feet and a wingspan of 38 feet. Weight is listed as 5,200 lbs. Performance in the multi-engine arrangement includes an estimated top speed of 620 mph, a service ceiling of 50,000 feet and a rate of climb of approximately 160 feet per minute.

Such an overly complex futuristic design has not been realized by the desperate Luftwaffe since the end of the war in Europe in May 1945. It is said that the Focke-Wulf concept aircraft completed only a few wind tunnel tests before its facilities were taken by the Allies - leading one to imagine what a fleet of Triebel wing interceptors parked at air bases across Germany would look like war The same lasted until 1945.

Specification

Basics

Years in Service

1946

Origins

Nazi Germany

Status

Cancel

Development ended.

Crew

1

Production

0

Manufacturer

Focke-Wulf - Nazi Germany

Operator

Nazi Germany (abandoned)

scrolling

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.

Intercept

The ability to intercept incoming airborne threats with high performance, usually speed and rate of climb.

X-Plane (development, prototype, tech demo)

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

Dimensions and Weights

Width/Span

37.7 feet

(11.50m)

Height

30. 0 feet

(9.15m)

MTOW

5,512 lbs

(2,500 kg)

Performance

Installed:

3 x Pabst ramjets, each producing 2,000 pounds of thrust; 3 x Walther liquid-fueled rocket motors; 2 x Walther 109-501 Rocket Assisted Takeoff (RATO) systems, each producing 3,305 pounds thrust.

Maximum speed

621 km/h

(1,000 km/h | 540 kn)

Maximum

50,197 feet

(15,300m | 10km)

rate of climb

160 ft/min

(49 m/min)

Range (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: > 19030

Weapons

2 x 30 mm MK 103 automatic cannons. 2 x 20mm MG 151 automatic cannons.