#ME-163B 1a

[macgyverphotography]

Sitting behind the port side of the SR-71 Blackbird at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is the Bell X-1-B, which Chuck Yeager used to break the sound barrier.

[usafphantom2]

80 years ago today, the German Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet flew its first operational sortie. It was the first and only tailless rocket-powered interceptor to see operational service. s.si.edu/3SOda4o

@airandspace via X

[admiralnelsoniii]

The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet is a rocket-powered interceptor aircraft primarily designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Messerschmitt. It is the only operational rocket-powered fighter aircraft in history as well as the first piloted aircraft of any type to exceed 1,000 kilometres per hour (620 mph) in level flight.

Credited with the destruction of between nine and 18 Allied aircraft against ten losses.

Armament

Guns:

2 × 30 mm (1.181 in) Rheinmetall Borsig MK 108 cannon with 60 rpg (B-1a)

or

2 × 20 mm (0.787 in) MG 151/20 cannon with 100 rpg (Ba-1 / B-0 pre-production aircraft)

Germany started small-scale combat operations with the Me 163B in May 1944. The Me 163B's unsurpassed velocity was something Allied fighter pilots were at a loss to counter. The Komets attacked singly or in pairs, often even faster than the intercepting fighters could dive. A typical Me 163 tactic was to fly vertically upward through the bombers at 9,000 m (30,000 ft), climb to 10,700–12,000 m (35,100–39,400 ft), then dive through the formation again, firing as they went. This approach afforded the pilot two brief chances to fire a few rounds from his cannons before gliding back to his airfield. The pilots reported it was possible to make four passes on a bomber, but only if it was flying alone. According to the historian Mano Ziegler, Nazi officials were allegedly considering using the Me 163 to directly ram into enemy aircraft in suicide attacks; this desperate tactic was never actually used.

[airmanisr]

Messerschmitt Me-163 Komet at the RAF Museum Cosford by fsll2 Via Flickr: Messerschmitt Me-163B-1a Komet at the RAF Museum Cosford

[hanspanzer]

Messerschmitt Me.163B-1a Komet

[wirestormpublishing]

The Me-163B-1a Komet rocket powered interceptor. Pictured is a functional replica. Read more about the Komet on my Publisher's Site: www.facebook.com/wirestormpublishing https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv9wQjyH2Sc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=y0lybkzs9jr3

[chrislaguna1-blog]

Wright Patterson Air Force Base Airshow 1947 . Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a Komet WNr.191301 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvrm6Ouhfug/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=alkpwqlwp2

[nantaku]

【RIAT2018遠征】⑪コスフォード王立空軍博物館／WAR IN THE AIR編(2018/7/16)

【WAR IN THE AIR】

次に向かったのはテストフライト館の隣のWAR IN THE AIR館です。ここには主に英・独・日の大戦機が展示されていますが、当方大戦機は専門外のため紹介するだけにしておきます。

①Me 163B-1a コメット

②Me 262

③Fw 190A-8

④Bf 109G

⑤Ju 88

⑥Me 410A-1/U2 

⑦デファイアント Mk1

⑧スピットファイア I

⑨アブロ リンカーン

⑩一〇〇式司令部偵察機

⑪五式戦闘機

⑫桜花

撮り逃しもありましたが、WAR IN THE AIR館の展示物はこのような感じでした。

最後の冷戦館については次回の投稿にてレポートします。

[usafphantom2]

Johnny Comstedt

Messerschmitt Me-163B-1a Komet in Udvar-Hazy Center

C/n 191301 built in 1945 to Luftwaffe. In Smithsonian Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. USA 29. April 2013.

[airmanisr]

Messerschmitt Me-163B-1a Komet at Wright-Patterson by Johnny Comstedt Via Flickr: Luftwaffe rocket engine powered fighter c/n 191095. In National Museum of USAF, Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton, OH, USA 5. October 2017

[airmanisr]

Messerschmitt Me-163B-1a Komet at Wright-Patterson by Johnny Comstedt Via Flickr: Luftwaffe rocket engine powered fighter c/n 191095. In National Museum of USAF, Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton, OH, USA 5. October 2017

[hanspanzer]

Me-163B-1a