Messerschmitt Me 163 'Komet', Duxford 1996 ©Dave Key
ROLE
Interceptor.
FIRST FLIGHT
1 September 1941.
The Messerschmitt Me 163 'Komet', designed by Alexander Lippisch, was the only rocket powered fighter aircraft to enter operational service.
The prototype Me 163A was produced in 1941, powered by the HWK RII-203 engine and piloted by Heini Dittmar it set a new world speed record of 624.2 mph (1,004.5 km/h).
The aircraft did not have conventional undercarriage but instead had a jettisonable main gear which is dropped after take-off. Once the aircraft had used all its fuel it could glide on approach and land on a central skid at a speed of 200km/h (120mph).
During flight testing, the Komet had good gliding characteristics but an up draught of air could cause the aircraft to rise which was detrimental during landing for the unpowered aircraft as there was no opportunity to make a second pass.
A set of flaps was added for the production aircraft to help control during landing.
Once on the ground the aircraft had to be retrieved by a three wheeled Scheuch-Schlepper tractor, originally used for agriculture.
The Me 163B was made more suitable to mass production and had a retractable landing skid and tailwheel.
It was the first aircraft to exceed 1000km/hr (621mph) in level flight and reached a maximum speed during testing of 1,130km/hr (700mph), a speed unmatched for over a decade, although the recommend max speed was reduced to 900km/h (560mph).
The cockpit of the Me 163 was unpressurized so the pilots had to have altitude chamber training so that they could withstand the rigours of operating at high altitude only wearing an oxygen mask and no pressure suit.
PRODUCTION
The Messerschmitt Me 163 was produced from 1944, with 370 built.
ENGINE
Walter HWK509-A2, producing 3750 lb st.
ARMAMENT
2 x MK 108 30mm cannon.
By the end of 1944, 91 Me 163’s had been delivered to Jagdgeschwader 400 but most were grounded due to lack of fuel. The fuel shortage together with the need for experience pilots to fly the aircraft saw few actually making it into combat.
Towards the end of the war the Messerschmitt Me 163 was replaced by the more successful Messerschmitt Me 262.
| Crew - 1 |
| Length - 19ft 2.25in (5.85m) |
| Wingspan - 30ft 7.25in (9.33m) |
| Height - 9ft 1in (2.77m) |
| Empty Weight - 4,200lb (1,905kg) |
| Max. Weight - 9,502lb (4,310kg) |
| Max. Speed - 593 mph (954 km/h) |
| Range - 8 minutes (Max Power) |
