5.6 KiB
| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heinkel He 176 | 3/3 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinkel_He_176 | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T13:12:43.440722+00:00 | kb-cron |
=== Flight testing and cancellation === On 20 June 1939, the He 176 performed its maiden flight piloted by Warsitz, the occasion being the first manned rocket flight in the world. Warsitz later described the flight: "On quite another heading from that originally intended she leapt into the air and flew with a yaw and a wobble. I kept her close to the ground while gaining speed, then pulled back gently on the control stick for rapid ascent. I was at 750 kms/hr and without any loss in speed the machine shot skywards at an angle somewhere between vertical and 45°. She was enormously sensitive to the controls...Everything turned out wonderfully, however, and it was a relief to fly round the northern tip of Usedom Island without a sound at 800 kms/hr. I banked sharp left again to straighten up for the airstrip, losing such speed and altitude as I could, and during this steep turn the rocket died as the tanks dried up. The abrupt loss of speed hurled me forward in my restraint straps. I pressed the stick forward, hissed rapidly over the Penne and came in at 500 kms/hr. I crossed the airfield boundary and after several prescribed little bounces the machine came to a stop." Following the initial test flight, the aircraft received alterations; apparently the fixed nose wheel was removed at this point as the design team intended to use only the two main wheels and the tail for regular landings. Following an initial round of flight testing, Heinkel demonstrated the He 176 to the RLM, which, however, showed little official interest. According to Warsitz, speaking of Von Braun's cooperation during the tests at Pennemunde: "Although not technically part of the He 176-V1 project with the Walter rocket engine, naturally everything affecting it was of interest to himself and his colleagues because the He 176-V2 was to have the von Braun engine..." The RLM's unfavourable attitude towards the aircraft was a major contributor to Heinkel's decision to reduce his involvement in rocket propulsion efforts. On 12 September 1939, the discontinuation of the He 176 test programme was officially ordered, apparently due to dissatisfaction with its performance and size. Only the one aircraft was ever completed; after its retirement, it was put on static display at the Berlin Air Museum. It was destroyed by an Allied bombing raid during 1943.
=== Impact === Before the cancellation of the programme, Heinkel had been designing a more sophisticated rocket-powered aircraft, sometimes referred to the He 176 V2, which was apparently intended for operational use. For this model, a more powerful von Braun engine would have been used, for speeds of up to 1,000 kph (620 mph). No such aircraft was ever constructed, but because it bore the same designation as the aircraft that was actually flown, many books and websites mistakenly publish pictures of this design intended to illustrate its earlier namesake. Some of the technical knowledge gained through the He 176 was incorporated into future projects undertaken by Heinkel, such as the He 280 prototype jet fighter. Germany did eventually fly an operational rocket-propelled fighter, the Alexander Lippisch-designed Me 163 Komet, but this was produced by the competing Messerschmitt firm. By the time that orders to terminate work on the He 176 had been received, early work on the Me 163 project had already commenced. It was powered by a similar rocket engine that was actually a further development of the unit that had powered the He 176.
== Specifications (He 176 V1) ==
Data from Heinkel: An aircraft albumGeneral characteristics Crew: 1 Length: 5.21 m (17 ft 1 in) Wingspan: 5.00 m (16 ft 5 in) Height: 1.435 m (4 ft 8.5 in) Wing area: 5.4 m2 (58 sq ft) Empty weight: 900 kg (1,985 lb) Gross weight: 1,620 kg (3,572 lb) Powerplant: 1 × Walter HWK R1-203 liquid-fuelled rocket engine, 5.88 kN (1,323 lbf) thrust , 50 s burn time Performance
Maximum speed: 750 km/h (466 mph, 405 kn) estimated Cruise speed: 710 km/h (441 mph, 383 kn) estimated Range: 109 km (68 mi, 59 nmi) Service ceiling: 9,000 m (29,500 ft) Rate of climb: 60.6 m/s (11,930 ft/min) Time to altitude: 2.5 minutes to 8,000 m (26,250 ft)
== See also ==
Related lists
List of military aircraft of Germany List of rocket aircraft
== References ==
=== Citations ===
=== Bibliography === Heath, Tim (2022). In Furious Skies: Flying with Hitler's Luftwaffe in the Second World War. Pen and Sword History. ISBN 978-1-5267-8526-8. LePage, Jean-Denis G.G. (2009). Aircraft of the Luftwaffe, 1935-1945: An Illustrated Guide. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5280-4. Munson, Kenneth (1978). German Aircraft Of World War 2 in colour. Poole, Dorset, UK: Blandford Press. ISBN 0-7137-0860-3. Neufeld, Michael J. (2013). The Rocket and the Reich. Smithsonian. ISBN 978-1588344670. Pelt, Michel van (2012). Rocketing Into the Future: The History and Technology of Rocket Planes. New York, US: Springer. ISBN 978-1461432005. Turner, St. John P. (1970). Heinkel: An aircraft album. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 07110-01731. Tuttle, Jim (2002). Eject! The Complete History of U.S. Aircraft Escape Systems. St. Paul, Minnesota, US: MBI Publishing. ISBN 0-7603-1185-4. Warsitz, Lutz (2008). The First Jet Pilot: The Story of German Test Pilot Erich Warsitz. Barnsley: Pen and Sword aviation. ISBN 9781844158188.
== External links ==
Myhra, David (2013). Heinkel He 176: The untold story of the first liquid-fuelled rocket aircraft in history. RCW Ebook Publishing.