Focke-Wulf Fw 187
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| Focke-Wulf FW 187 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Image:FW187.jpg | |||
| Description | |||
| Role | Zerstorer (Heavy Fighter) prototype | ||
| Crew | 1-2 | ||
| First Flight | Spring 1937 | ||
| Manufacturer | Focke-Wulf | ||
| Dimensions | |||
| Length | 11.12 m | 36 ft 6 in | |
| Wingspan | 15.30 m | 50 ft 2.5 in | |
| Height | 3.85 m | 12 ft 7 in | |
| Wing Area | 237 m² | 22 ft² | |
| Weights | |||
| Empty | 3,700 kg | 8,157 lb | |
| Loaded | 5,000 kg | 11,023 lb | |
| Powerplant | |||
| Engine | 2 × Junkers Jumo 210 Ga | ||
| Power (each) | 544 kW | 730 hp | |
| Performance | |||
| Maximum speed | 529 km/h @ 4,200 m | 329 mph @ 13,780 ft | |
| Service ceiling | 10,000 m | 32,810 ft | |
| Armament | |||
| 2 × 20 mm MG FF Cannon in lower fuselage,
4 × 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns in fuselage sides | |||
The Focke-Wulf Fw 187 Falke (Falcon) was created by Kurt Tank as a heavy fighter and a competitor to the Messerschmitt Bf 110 in the Zerstörer (destroyer) role. Unlike the Bf 110, the Fw 187 was originally conceived as a single-seater, but a second seat for a radio operator/rear gunner had to be added on request by the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM). The Fw 187 had a very narrow fuselage which dictated a cockpit so small that the engine instruments had to be placed on the inboard engine nacelles.
Despite an RLM requirement that the Fw 187 use Junkers Jumo 210 engines instead of the planned DB 600, the performance of the Fw 187 was generally superior to that of the Bf 110. In fact, it was 50 mph (80 km/h) faster than the contemporary Messerschmitt Bf 109B, despite having twice the range, more than twice the weight, and using two of the 109's engines. The Fw 187's climb and dive rates were also on par if not superior to the nimble single-seater. German authorities, however, relied heavily on the Messerschmitt products, and the Fw 187 never entered service. With the Fw 187 they could have had a successful long-range fighter in the Battle of Britain, which would have made an impact on the relative losses of the clashing air forces.
A squadron of three Fw 187s was manned by Focke-Wulf test-pilots for factory defense until the winter of 1940 when they were sent to Norway for unofficial evaluation. Luftwaffe pilots found the Fw 187 generally superior to the Bf 110 in almost all respects, but the RLM quickly withdrew them from service.
Later, up-engined variants of the Fw 187 were developed. A variant with surface evaporation cooling and DB 600A engines (1,000 hp each) the Fw 187 V6 was developed and flown in early 1939. Cooling problems were soon encountered with the evaporative system, accompanied by some skin buckling and distortion, but during a series of carefully timed and measured runs in October 1939, the Fw 187 V6 clocked 394.5 mph in level flight. At one point, Kurt Tank even suggested the Fw 187C as high-altitude fighter instead of the Ta 152 that was still in development at that time.
The Fw 187 was also considered for the night-fighter role, but its extremely narrow fuselage prohibited the installation of radar and other necessary equipment.
The Ta 154 Moskito resulted from the Luftwaffe requirement for a twin-engined heavy fighter like the Fw 187, but constructed from wood instead of light alloys. Due to the different material, Kurt Tank couldn't make any use of the work done for the Fw 187 but had to design a completely new aircraft to meet this requirement.
| Related content | |
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| Related development | |
| Similar aircraft |
Bf 110 - Ar 240 - Me 210 - Ta 154 - Westland Whirlwind -
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| Designation series | |
| Related lists | |
de:Focke-Wulf Fw 187 pl:Focke-Wulf Fw 187 sv:Focke-Wulf Fw 187 Falke
