Heinkel He 178
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| Heinkel He 178 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Experimental prototype |
| Manufacturer | Heinkel |
| Maiden flight | August 27 1939 |
The Heinkel He 178 was the world's first aircraft to fly under turbojet power, and the first practical jet plane. It was a private venture by the German Heinkel company in accordance with director Ernst Heinkel's emphasis on developing technology for high-speed flight and first flew on August 27 1939 piloted by Erich Warsitz. This had been preceded by a short hop three days earlier.
In 1936, a young engineer named Hans von Ohain had taken out a patent on using the exhaust from a gas turbine as a means of propulsion. He presented his idea to Heinkel, who agreed to help develop the concept. Von Ohain successfully demonstrated his first engine in 1937, and plans were quickly put in place to test a similar engine in an aircraft. The He 178 was designed around von Ohain's third engine design, which burned diesel fuel. The result was a small aircraft of conventional configuration and construction, with a metal fuselage and high-mounted wooden wings. The jet intake was in the nose, and the plane was fitted with taildragger-style undercarriage. On the first flight, the main gear was fixed, but was later made retractable.
The aircraft was an outstanding success — although just a flying testbed, it was faster than the fastest piston engined aircraft of the day having reached a maximum speed of 403 mph (650 km/h) and a cruising speed of 363 mph (585 km/h). Projected maximum speed for a production aircraft was to be 435 mph (700 km/h), a speed not reached in combat until 1944. On November 1 1939, Heinkel arranged a demonstration of the jet for the Reichsluftfahrtministerium ("Reich Aviation Ministry", RLM), where both Ernst Udet and Erhard Milch watched the aircraft perform. However, due to the conservative approach to aircraft design then favoured by both men, no official interest in the concept was shown. Nevertheless, Heinkel was undeterred, and decided to embark on the development of a jet fighter, the Heinkel He 280 as a private venture using what had been learned from the He 178.
The He 178 was placed in the Deutsches Technikmuseum ("German Technical Museum") in Berlin, where it was destroyed in an air raid in 1943.
[edit] Specifications (variant described)
General characteristics<h3>
- Crew: One
- Length: 24 ft 6 in (7.48 m)
- Wingspan: 23 ft 3 in (7.20 m)
- Height: 6 ft 10 in (2.10 m)
- Wing area: 98 ft² (9.1 m²)
- Empty weight: 3,572 lb (1,620 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 4,405 lb (1,998 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× HeS 3 turbojet, 992 lbf (4.4 kN)
<h3>Performance<h3>
- Maximum speed: 435 mph (700 km/h)
- Range: 200 km (125 mi)
- Service ceiling: m (ft)
- Rate of climb: m/min (ft/min)
| Related content | |
|---|---|
| Related development | |
| Similar aircraft | |
| Designation series | |
| Related lists |
List of military aircraft of Germany |
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