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Subject: Heinkel He 280
Date: 15 Mar 2017 07:56:36 -0700
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinkel_He_280
The Heinkel He 280 was the first turbojet-powered fighter aircraft in the world.
It was inspired by Ernst Heinkel's emphasis on research into high-speed flight
and built on the company's experience with the He 178 jet prototype. A
combination of technical and political factors led to it being passed over in
favor of the Messerschmitt Me 262. Only nine were built and none reached
operational status.
The Heinkel company began the He 280 project on its own initiative after the He
178 had been met with indifference from the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (German,
Reich Aviation Ministry, RLM). The head designer was Robert Lusser, who began
the project under the designation He 180 in late 1939. It had a typical Heinkel
fighter fuselage, elliptically-shaped wings and a dihedralled tailplane with
twin fins and rudders. The landing gear was of the retractable tricycle type
with very little ground clearance. This arrangement was considered too frail for
the grass or dirt airfields of the era; however, the tricycle layout eventually
gained acceptance. The Me 262 was originally designed as a tail-dragger, but
this configuration makes it difficult for a jet to become airborne, and the Me
262 entered production with a redesigned tricycle landing gear. The He 280 was
equipped with a compressed-air powered ejection seat, the first aircraft to
carry one and the first aircraft to successfully employ one in an emergency.
The first prototype was completed in the summer of 1940, but the HeS 8 intended
to power it was running into difficulties. On 22 September 1940, while work on
the engine continued, the first prototype started glide tests with ballasted
pods hung in place of its engines. It would be another six months before Fritz
March 1941. The type was then demonstrated to Ernst Udet, head of RLM's
development wing, on 5 April, but like its predecessor, it apparently failed to
make an impression. One benefit of the He 280 which did impress the political
leadership was the fact that the jet engines could burn kerosene, which requires
much less expense and refining than the high-octane fuel used by piston-engine
aircraft. However, government funding was lacking at the critical stage of
initial development.
Engine problems continued to plague the project. In 1942, the RLM had ordered
Heinkel to abandon the HeS 8 and HeS 30 to focus all development on a follow-on
engine, the HeS 011, a more advanced and problematic design. Meanwhile, the
first He 280 prototype was re-equipped with pulsejets and towed aloft to test
them. Bad weather caused the aircraft to ice up, and before the jets could be
tested, pilot Helmut Schenk became the first person to put an ejection seat to
use. The seat worked perfectly, but the aircraft was lost and never found.
With the HeS 011 not expected for some time, Heinkel selected the rival BMW 003.
However, this engine also had problems and delays. The second He 280 prototype
was re-engined with Junkers Jumo 004s while the next three airframes were
earmarked for the BMW motor, which was ultimately unavailable. The Jumo engines
were much larger and heavier than the HeS 8 that the plane had been designed
for, and while it flew well enough on its first powered flights from 16 March
1943, it was clear that this engine was unsuitable. The aircraft was slower and
generally less efficient than the Me 262.
Less than two weeks later, on 27 March, Erhard Milch cancelled the project. The
Jumo 004-powered Me 262 appeared to have most of the qualities of the He 280,
but was better matched to its engine. Heinkel was ordered to abandon the He 280
and focus attention on bomber development and construction, something he
remained bitter about until his death.
Role
Fighter
Manufacturer
Heinkel
Designer
Robert Lusser
First flight
22 September 1940
Status
Cancelled
Produced
Number built
9
Specifications (He 280 V3)
General characteristics
Crew: 1, pilot
Length: 10.40 m (34 ft 1 in)
Wingspan: 12.20 m (40 ft)
Height: 3.06 m (10 ft)
Empty weight: 3,215 kg (7,073 lb)
Loaded weight: 4,280 kg (9,416 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 4,300 kg (9,470 lb)
Performance
Maximum speed: 820 km/h (512 mph)
Range: 370 km (230 mi)
Service ceiling: 10,000 m (32,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 1,145 m/min (3,756 ft/min)
Armament
*
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