Viewing Photographs

Many of the images used in this blog are larger than they are reproduced in the article posts. Click on any image and a list of thumbnails will be displayed and clicking on a thumbnail will display that image in its original size.

Blohm & Voss P 211: Volksjäger Jet Fighter Competition Proposal

Blohm & Voss P. 211 wind tunnel model.


The Blohm & Voss P 211 was a design proposal submitted by Blohm & Voss to the Volksjäger jet fighter competition of the Luftwaffe Emergency Fighter Program towards the end of the Second World War.

During the latter part of 1944, when the High Command of the Luftwaffe saw that there was a dire need to put up a strong defense against the devastating allied bombing raids, on September 8 they asked aircraft manufacturers Messerschmitt, Arado, Focke-Wulf, Heinkel, Junkers and Blohm & Voss to propose designs for single-engined light fighters weighing no more than 2000 kg that would use one BMW 003 jet engine per unit.

Owing to the war-related scarcity of strategic materials such as aluminum, the jets were required to be simplified in order to be built using a strict minimum, as well as to be built in adequate quantities as quickly as possible in underground factories. Despite these requirements that would impinge on the overall quality of the new planes, their performance was required to surpass that of the best piston-engined fighters, being able to reach a maximum speed of 750 km/h with a minimum combat action time of 30 minutes.

Blohm & Voss submitted two preliminary designs, the P 210 tailless swept wing jet and the more conventional, tailed P 211. Only the P 211 was progressed further.

BV P 211.01

This project was dated September 14, 1944 and was an alternative development to the Bv P.210. Engineer Amtmann utilized the airframe and swept wings of the P.210. The main structural component was lengthened to serve as a support for the tail structure. The wing was swept back at 30 degrees. One BMW 003A-1 turbojet was located in the fuselage rear and exhausted beneath the tail boom. Armament consisted of two MK 108 30mm cannon in the fuselage nose. A tricycle undercarriage arrangement was also provided. This was the first fighter design in the world specifically designed to take advantage of the aerodynamic properties of the swept wing. The aircraft design was simple and spared the use of strategic materials, plus it was maintenance-friendly. Although the design met with positive reactions from company officials, they were hesitant to make the final decision, and the project was delayed.

Simple 3-way schematics of the Blohm & Voss BV P.211.01 jet fighter.


Blohm & Voss BV.P.211-01 proifle.


BV P 211.02

The P 211.02 was similar to the P 211.01 but, since low cost and ease of manufacture were important, had a simpler straight, unswept wing. The wing was placed in the shoulder position, slightly below the top of the fuselage. The P 211.02 was designed by Richard Vogt and included wood in its construction. Parts of the plane were built, such as the steel air-intake/fuselage load-bearing structure for the single BMW 003A-1 engine. However, the P 211.02 didn't go past the project stage for the project was finally awarded to Heinkel whose He 162 Spatz went into mass-production.

Blohm und Voss BV P.211.02.


 

No comments:

Post a Comment