Was the Me 163 used in combat?
Was the Me 163 used in combat?
However, the Komet burned through its fuel in just seven minutes of flight—giving it an operational range of just twenty-five miles. Nonetheless, the Luftwaffe decided it could use the Me 163 as a point-defense fighter, deploying it to airfields close to high-value targets subject to repeated attack.
How many aircraft did the Me 163 shoot down?
16 aircraft
Although it shot down 16 aircraft, mainly four-engined bombers, it did not warrant the effort put into the project. Due to fuel shortages late in the war, few went into combat, and it took an experienced pilot with excellent shooting skills to achieve “kills”.
What fuel did the Komet use?
Flying the Komet The Walter rocket motor which powered the Komet used two very dangerous fuels. These were concentrated hydrogen peroxide and a solution of methanol and hydrazine hydrate. These two fuels would explode on contact.
How fast was the Messerschmitt Komet?
FHCAM – Messerschmitt Me 163 B Komet. This speedy pint-sized rocket interceptor proved dangerous to friend and foe alike. The Me 163 Komet prototype set a new air speed record of 624 mph in 1941. The Komet could zoom through a formation of high-flying bombers, firing its heavy cannons on each pass.
Could Me 163 break the sound barrier?
In 1944, a modified Me 163 reportedly achieved 702 miles per hour in a dive, nearly shearing off its vertical stabilizer in the process. This unofficial record was not exceeded until 1947, when Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in his Bell X-1. The Komet’s design was revised for mass production in the Me 163B.
Could ME 163 break the sound barrier?
Who was the manufacturer of the Messerschmitt B-1 Komet?
Messerschmitt Me-163 B-1 Komet, Wk. Nr. 191660, and Scheuch-Schlepper. This particular aircraft was built by Junkers Aircraft (production of the Me-163 had been largely taken on by Junkers which had fewer production obligations at the time).
Why was the Messerschmitt Me 163B Komet delayed?
The first Me 163A prototypes were tested in 1941, but powered flight testing of the more advanced Me 163B was delayed until August 1943 due to engine and fuel problems. Although the Komet’s rocket engine gave it a exceptional climb rate, range was severely limited by its high fuel consumption.
Is the Messerschmitt Me 163 a dangerous bomber?
The Komet could zoom through a formation of high-flying bombers, firing its heavy cannons on each pass. Unfortunately, the Me 163 was as dangerous to its own pilot as it was to Allied bomber formations.
Who was the designer of the Messerschmitt Me 163?
Designed by Alexander Lippisch, its performance and aspects of its design were unprecedented. German test pilot Heini Dittmar in early July 1944 reached 1,130 km/h (700 mph), an unofficial flight airspeed record unmatched by turbojet -powered aircraft for almost a decade.