Best Jet of WW2?

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-20-2005, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RG_Lunatic

What they needed to do was figure out some way to air-launch the 163 from high altitude. Starting from altitude, it would not have to climb (obviously) and thus would not need so much thrust. It could have been made smaller (6,000 lbs loaded) with a smaller rocket engine could have been used, which would have allowed more powered flight time and pleanty of speed, and perhaps another gun or two.

In my opinion, for bomber interception, the upward firing single shot 30mm's were extremely promising. These were automatically fired when the 163 passed under the target by photo sensors - I believe 2 bombers were destroyed by 163's with this armament.

=S=

Lunatic

That is a pretty good idea, and was used by the US in its rocket powered aircraft program in the 50's and 60's. Most of them dropped from B-29's and B-52's. I wonder though if there would have been an aircraft the Germans had that could carry the Me-163 to alltitude. Maybe the Fw-200, Ju-188, Ju-288, Ju-388 or a modified Ju-88 in used in the Mistel configuration only the Ju-88 carrying the 163, probably most likely a Ju-390. Maybe the Do-317, Fw-191, Hs-130 if they had ever gone into production.

the lancaster kicks ass · 03-20-2005, 04:22 PM

or a komet and He-177, man that'd be funny.....

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-20-2005, 04:38 PM

If the 177's engines didn't explode.

delcyros · 03-20-2005, 04:42 PM

It would surely have been a very hot and flamable Mistel!

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-20-2005, 05:04 PM

Yes it would have.

delcyros · 03-20-2005, 05:16 PM

In general, I think it is problematic to suggest operating a smaller rocket driven plane by other planes. In the case of the Me-163 I would consider such a try very silly. It was designed to provide interception abilities at short range (Objektschutz). That would be difficult in another plane (they would need to patrol at high altitude with it´s load), a waste of fuel. There were, however, plans for such a use (Parasitjäger) with small fighters and Arado 234 C as well as other planes. The upward firing 30mm projectiles are the mentioned SG-500 Jagdfaust. They would have made a better equippment than MK 108, agreed.

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-20-2005, 05:40 PM

I was not implying that it should be controled from other aircraft. What I am saying is that it would be brought to alltitude by tohter aircraft. Either carried under a bomber like the US did with its rocket planes or in the manner that the mistel was was carried by Fw-190's or Me-109's just using a larger plane like a Ju-88 to carry it up. A Ju-88 would probably not have the power to get one up there. But as RG said if you could do that it would save fuel and let it stay up longer.

delcyros · 03-21-2005, 03:25 PM

But wouldn´t a take off by another plane reduce it´s fantastic climb abilities? Imagine: Radar detects incoming bombers (T- 40 minutes), planes will be made ready (T-25 minutes), take off (T-20 minutes), climbing to release altitude (T+10 minutes), seperation and service of the Me-163 as interceptor. The only way I can see an advantage would be in the statistics. The tactics would probably tell a different story. However, it is worth to think about it. I always wondered, how they want to use the DFS 346 experimantal plane.

03-21-2005, 03:41 PM

Certainly the planes carrying the rocket interceptors would have to take off early, probably before dawn, and climb to their staging areas and wait, well to the east, to be vectored toward incomming bomber formations.

The real issue is how high could such a carrier plane fly and how long could it cruise while waiting?

=S=

Lunatic

delcyros · 03-21-2005, 04:08 PM

I doubt that Luftwaffe could provide enough fuel in late 1944 to field such operations in larger numbers. A He-177 could only carry one, a Ju-390 probably two but fuel consumption for such a mission would be terrible in late 1944.

03-21-2005, 11:40 PM

To make it work a dedicated carrier plane would have needed to be built. But, low grade fuel could be used as there is no requirement for speed.

=S=

Lunatic

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-22-2005, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delcyros

But wouldn´t a take off by another plane reduce it´s fantastic climb abilities? Imagine: Radar detects incoming bombers (T- 40 minutes), planes will be made ready (T-25 minutes), take off (T-20 minutes), climbing to release altitude (T+10 minutes), seperation and service of the Me-163 as interceptor. The only way I can see an advantage would be in the statistics. The tactics would probably tell a different story. However, it is worth to think about it. I always wondered, how they want to use the DFS 346 experimantal plane.

Who cares about climb abilities? What would have mattered is what the aircraft would have been able to do with more time in the air.

KraziKanuK · 03-22-2005, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

[
Who cares about climb abilities? What would have mattered is what the aircraft would have been able to do with more time in the air.

Even the prop jobs did not have that much air time. Usually it was climb, find the bombers, make a pass and rtb.

the lancaster kicks ass · 03-22-2005, 02:44 PM

well that's all you need..........

delcyros · 03-22-2005, 03:22 PM

Time would be still limited, even if the Me-163 was droped in 8000 m altitude. I see no way how it could reach 10 minutes of powered flight under any circumstances. And even that is too low. That makes such a try very questionable.