Heinkel He 178
This little aircrafts primary claim to fame was that it was the aircraft,
designed from the outset as a jet, to fly under jet propulsion. A private
venture of Heinkel, the He 178 had a dural fuselage and a wooden wing. The
powerplant, primarily designed by Hans-Joachim Pabst von Ohain, initially
burned gasoline but later switched to diesel J2. The first flight was a short
hop on August 24, 1939 followed three days later by a second flight. This
second flight proved to be somewhat exciting when a loss of thrust was
experienced after a bird was ingested in the intake. The V1 flew again on
November 1, 1939 for the RLM (including Udet and Milch) at Marienehe but did
not generate much interest. The V1 flew a couple more times and was eventually
destroyed in the Berlin Air Museum by Allied bombers. The V2, which was
supposed to have larger wings, was never flown.
Type: Experimental jet
Origin: Ernest Heinkel AG
Models: V1 and V2
Production: 2 prototypes
Powerplant:
HeS 3B turbojet
Thrust (Early): 992 lb. (450kg)
Thrust (Later): 1,102 lb. (500kg) Dimensions:
Wing span: 7.20m (23 ft. 3½ in.)
Wing Surface Area: N/A
Length: 7.48m (24 ft. 6½ in.)
Height: 2.10m (6 ft. 10½ in.)
Stabilizer Span: N/A
Origin: Ernest Heinkel AG
Models: V1 and V2
Production: 2 prototypes
Powerplant:
HeS 3B turbojet
Thrust (Early): 992 lb. (450kg)
Thrust (Later): 1,102 lb. (500kg) Dimensions:
Wing span: 7.20m (23 ft. 3½ in.)
Wing Surface Area: N/A
Length: 7.48m (24 ft. 6½ in.)
Height: 2.10m (6 ft. 10½ in.)
Stabilizer Span: N/A
Weights:
Empty: 1620kg (3,572 lb.)
Loaded: 1998kg (4,405 lb.) Performance:
Maximum Speed (at sea level): 435 mph (700 kph)
Cruise Speed: N/A
Range (at sea level): N/A
Initial Climb: N/A
Service Ceiling: N/A
Empty: 1620kg (3,572 lb.)
Loaded: 1998kg (4,405 lb.) Performance:
Maximum Speed (at sea level): 435 mph (700 kph)
Cruise Speed: N/A
Range (at sea level): N/A
Initial Climb: N/A
Service Ceiling: N/A
, 1977, Salamander Books Ltd., London
