The Me 262 began as a preliminary design in 1939, without the engines needed to make it fly. Thus, the first prototype flew in 1941 with a 700hp Jumo 210G piston engine, and not the planned BMW 003 turbojet engines.
The early prototypes were fitted with conventional tail wheels. However, this configuration made takeoffs highly dangerous, so a fully retractable tricycle landing gear modification became the standard. The Me 262A-1a "Schwalbe" ("Swallow") was the first production model of the Me 262. It was produced with four Mk 108 30mm cannon mounted in the nose, in its role as an interceptor, a role that it performed with great promise except for several limiting factors: First, it came into the battle far too late, when the Allied air forces had reached formidable capacity; secondly, its engines were a constant source of trouble, frequently failing after no more than 12 hours; third, it was utilized inappropriately for far too long, after Hitler decided that the machine should be used in a bombing capacity, to "punish" the Allies. That version, the Me 262A-2a "Sturmvogel" ("Stormbird") was reconfigured to carry two 550lb bombs, still retaining the four cannon. A further refinement, Me 262A-2a/U1 had two of the cannon removed to provide space for a bomb-aiming device, and Me 262A-2/U2 carried a prone bombardier in the nose section. Thus, for much of the aircraft's brief combat life, it was used against the wrong type of targets, with even less effect than if it had been used as an interceptor.
In addition to bomber, ground attack and night fighter variants, the Me 262 was also produced as a tandem two-seat trainer, the Me 262B-1a. Four 262A-1as were modified to carry a single 50mm Mk 214 cannon which extended almost 7 feet beyond the nose of the plane, but the blinding flash from the barrel limited the effectiveness of the device. In any case, it didn't matter. There were 1,433 Me 262s built, with nearly 500 more destroyed by bombing raids before they were completed. Of that total, fewer than 300 were actually used in combat.
Using equipment and components manufactured during the occupation of Czechoslovakia, some Me 262s were produced by Avia, in Czechoslovakia after the war, under the designation S.92.
In its brightest moments, when it was used as intended, the Me 262 was the equivalent of sending the "Three Musketeers" against Sitting Bull at Little Big Horn. In one battle, for instance, 37 of the 262s were scrambled against an Allied raid that consisted of 1,221 bombers and 632 fighter escorts! In their most effective performance, they cost the Allies a one percent loss.
Despite the fact that the Me 262 is one of the most rare and esoteric aircraft of World War II, at least one group has endeavored to build brand new copies of this interesting airplane, updated to modern safety standards, and powered by more modern jet engines. The distinctive profile of the Me 262 has recently graced the skies again, this time in peaceful reflection rather than with hostile intent.
General characteristics
* Crew: 1 * Length: 10.60 m (34 ft 9 in) * Wingspan: 12.60 m (41 ft 6 in) * Height: 3.50 m (11 ft 6 in) * Wing area: 21.7 m² (234 ft²) * Empty weight: 3,795 kg [56] (8,366 lb) * Loaded weight: 6,473 kg [57] (14,272 lb) * Max takeoff weight: 7,130 kg [58] (15,720 lb) * Powerplant: 2× Junkers Jumo 004 B-1 turbojets, 8.8 kN (1,980 lbf) each * Aspect ratio: 7.32
Performance
* Maximum speed: 900 km/h (559 mph) * Range: 1,050 km (652 mi) * Service ceiling: 11,450 m (37,565 ft) * Rate of climb: 1,200 m/min (At max weight of 7,130 kg) (3,900 ft/min) * Thrust/weight: 0.28
Armament
* Guns: 4 × 30 mm MK 108 cannons (A-2a: two cannons) * Rockets: 24 × 55 mm (2.2 in) R4M rockets * Bombs: 2 × 250 kg (551 lb) bombs or 2 × 500 kg (1,102 lb) bombs (A-2a only)
And let's get one thing straight. There's a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. One is a technician; the other is an artist in love with flight. — E. B. Jeppesen
The new builds were delayed for years as a result of the death of Steve Snyder who was the main push behind the effort. He was a brilliant engineer and made a bundle of money in many areas of aviation and ploughed every bit of it back into things like this and buying warbirds the AIr Victory Museum he started. He also had a nice personal collection including the F-86 he was killed in - compressor stall on the deck during an air show flyby.
