Messerschmitt P.1079
| Industry | Aerospace, Defense |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1916 in Germany |
| Headquarters | Germany |
Template:Infobox aircraft The Messerschmitt P.1079 encompassed a collection of fighter concepts powered by pulsejet engines, conceived by Messerschmitt during the period of the Second World War.[1] These designs intended to utilize pulse jet propulsion similar to that employed in the V-1 flying bomb.
History
In May 1941, following the realization that the BMW turbojet engines intended for the Me 262 were not yet ready for deployment, Messerschmitt initiated development of several pulsejet-driven fighter prototypes under the designation P.1079. This approach was motivated by the relative simplicity and cost-effectiveness of pulsejets compared to turbojets.[2]
However, the Argus pulsejets demonstrated insufficient thrust at low speeds to enable unassisted takeoff for manned aircraft. Consequently, auxiliary launch methods such as towplane assistance, aircraft catapult systems, or rocket boosters would have been necessary. Incorporating such measures would undermine the program’s original objective and significantly increase costs beyond initial estimates.
Among various iterations, the Me P.1079 18 Schwalbe is mentioned in some sources.[3] Nevertheless, this so-called "experimental aircraft" has been identified as a widely circulated fabrication rather than an authentic Messerschmitt design.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
Variants
Every Me P.1079 model was a compact aircraft, none capable of independent takeoff. Each design incorporated retractable skids for touchdown and ground handling.
Me P.1079/1
This 1941 design featured a single pulsejet engine mounted atop the fuselage. The wings were short and swept backward.
Me P.1079/2
Equipped with one Argus-Schmidt SR 500 pulsejet, this variant had its cockpit positioned at the front of a lengthy fuselage and short swept-back wings. The slim air intake was situated ventrally beneath the cockpit.
Me P.1079/10c
Powered by a single SR 500 pulsejet, with half of the engine extending beyond the tail section, this model placed its air intake just behind the cockpit on the fuselage's upper surface. It represented one of the simpler configurations. Template:Aircraft specs
Me P.1079/13b
This version was driven by two SR pulsejets mounted on either side of the fuselage and featured twin vertical stabilizers. Template:Aircraft specs
Me P.1079/15
This model features an asymmetrical configuration, driven by a single pulsejet engine. Its fuselage is wide and flat in appearance, with the cockpit positioned on the right side and the pulsejet mounted on the left.
Me P.1079/16
Another compact aircraft with an asymmetric layout, utilizing a solitary pulsejet for propulsion. Apart from the air intake structure and the dual vertical tail fins, it closely resembles the Me P.1079/15, characterized by a broad, flat fuselage, with the pilot's cockpit located on the right and the pulsejet engine on the left.
See also
- V-1 flying bomb
- Blohm & Voss P 213
- Messerschmitt Me 328
- Emergency Fighter Program
- List of German aircraft projects, 1939–45
References
- ↑ Jean-Denis Lepage, Aircraft of the Luftwaffe, 1935-1945: An Illustrated Guide
- ↑ Griehl, Manfred (1998). Jet Planes of the Third Reich, the Secret Projects. Monogram Aviation Publications. ISBN 0-914144-36-7.
- ↑ Messerschmitt P.1079/18 Schwalbe
