Germany's Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Fighter1
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter:
U.S. Army in World War II - Pictorial Record, 1951
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Fighter:
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Fighter:
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Fighter:
Design
Designed in 1937 to be a compliment to the Messerschmitt Bf 109.1
Undercarriage
The undercarriage was wide and more stable than the Messerschmitt Bf 109.1
Flaps
A first for fighter aircraft the flaps were electrically operated.1
Fuselage
The fuselage was low and allowed the pilot to see better out the rear of the cockpit.1
Prototype
The first flight by the FW 190 was on June 1, 1939.1,2
Production
Variants
- Fw 190:
- Fw 190A-0: Pre-production models.2 Used BMW 801 engine.2
- Fw 190A-1:
- Fw 190A-3: Used BMW 801D-2 engine.2
- Fw 190A-4: Had water methanol power boosting.2
- Fw 190A-5: Had longer nose.2
- Fw 190A-5/U12: Had six 30 mm cannons.2
- Fw 190A-5/U14: Torpedo bomber.2
- Fw 190A-5/U15: Torpedo bomber.2
- Fw 190A-7:
- Fw 190A-8/R8: Armored heavily to ram American bombers.1
- Fw 190A-8/U1: Two seat trainer.2
- Fw 190D: "Dora."1 Introduced in mid-1944.1 Lengthened nose.2 Used a Jumo 213 inline engine.2
- Fw 190D-9: Top speed 426 mph / 685 kph.2 Used Jumo 2213A with water methanol boost (2,240 HP).2
- Fw 190F: Fighter bomber with up to 2,205 lb / 1,000 kg bombs.2
- Fw 190G: Fighter bomber with up to 2,205 lb / 1,000 kg bombs.2
Usage
The Fw 190A-1s joined the Luftwaffe in mid-1941.2
Until 1944, when the P-51 Mustang was able to escort the bombers, the Fw 190 decimated the B-17s and B-24s.1
A Top Ace
Oberleutnant Otto Kittel scored most of his 267 victories in a Fw 190.1
| Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-81,2 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fighter1,2 Fighter-bomber1 |
| Crew | 11,2 |
| Engine (Type) | BMW 801D-2 piston1,2 |
| Cylinders | Radial-141,2 |
| Cooling | |
| HP | 2,1001,2 |
| Propeller blades | 31,2 |
| Power boosting | Water methanol2 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 34' 5"1, 34' 5.5"2 10.5 m1,2 |
| Length | 29'1, 29' 1.5"2 8.84 m1,2 |
| Height | 13'1,2 3.96 m1,2 |
| Wing area | 196.98 ft2 2, 197 ft2 1 18.3 m2 1,2 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 6,989 lb1,2 3,170 kg1,2 |
| Loaded | 10,802 lb2, 10,803 lb1 4,900 kg1,2 |
| Performance | |
| Speed | 406 mph1 654 kph1 |
| Speed @ 19,685' / 6,000 m |
408 mph2 654 kph2 |
| Climb | 2,362'/minute2 720 m/minute2 |
| Service ceiling | 37,400'1,2 11,400 m1,2 |
| Range - internal fuel | 497 miles1, 500 miles2 800 km1, 805 km2 |
| Armament | |
| Nose | 2: 7.92 mm MG2 2: 7.92 mm MG 171 |
| Wings | 4: 20 mm2 4: 20 mm MG 151/201 |
| Bombs | 1: 1,100 lb1 2: 550 lb1 1: 500 kg1 2: 250 kg1 |
| OR | |
| Drop tank | 67 gallon1 300 liter1 |
| Production |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
