Germany's Focke-Wulf Ta 152 high altitude fighter¹

Focke-Wulf Ta 152C fighter:

Focke-Wulf Ta 152H-1 Fighter:

Design

Kurt Tank designed the Ta 152.¹

Cockpit

The cockpit was pressurized for the high altitudes it was intended to fly at.The Ta 152C developmental prototype flew on November 19, 1944.¹ There was an autopilot as the plane was complex and stressful to fly at high altitudes.¹

Engine

There was an air intake on the right side that fed the supercharger.¹

Used Water methanol (MW 50) injection on take-off to boost the power up to 2,050 hp.¹

Tail Wheel

The Ta 152H-1e had the tail wheel fully retracted and stored behind two doors.¹

Prototype

At Cottbus, in October 1944, the first 20 pre-production Ta 152s flew.¹

The Ta 152C developmental prototype flew on November 19, 1944.¹

The Erprobungskommando 152 conducted trials of the Ta 152 at Rechlin.¹

Production

Variants

• Ta 152:
• ??: Attack version.¹
• ??: Reconnaissance version.¹
• ??: Photo reconnaissance version.¹ Never became operational.¹

Usage

Was intended to fly at high altitudes to intercept bombers, but often the Ta 152 pilots fought at low altitudes where the FW 190D-9 performed better.¹

	Focke-Wulf Ta 152H-11
Type	High altitude fighter1
Crew	11
Engine (Type)	Junkers Jumo 213E piston1
Cylinders	Inverted V-121
Cooling
HP	1,7501
Propeller blades	31
Dimensions
Span	48' 6"1 14.5 m1
Length	35' 5"1 10.8 m1
Height	13' 2"1 4 m1
Wing area	253 ft2 1 23.5 m2 1
Weight
Empty	8,624 lb1 3,920 kg1
Loaded	10,450 lb1 4.750 kg1
Performance
Speed @ 41,000' / 12,500 m	471 mph1 760 kph1
Climb	3,445'/min1 1,050 m/min1
Service ceiling	48,550'1 14,800 m1
Range	745 miles1 1,200 km1
Armament
Propeller	30 mm Mk 1081
Rounds	901
Wing	2: 20 mm MG 151/201
Rounds	175 each1
Drop tank
Production

Sources:

1. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004

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