Germany's Focke-Wulf Ta 152 high altitude fighter^1,2

Focke-Wulf Ta 152C fighter:

Focke-Wulf Ta 152H-1 Fighter:

Design

Kurt Tank designed the Ta 152.¹ The Ta 152 was based on the abandoned Fw 190C high altitude fighter.²

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 first prototype flew in November 1944.²

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

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

Production

• Ta 152H-0: 20²
• Ta 152H-1: ~170²
• Total: 200²

Variants

• Ta 152A: Jumo engine.² Pressurized cabin.²
• Ta 152B: Jumo engine.² Pressurized cabin.²
• Ta 152C: Daimler-Benz DB 603 engine.²
• Ta 152H: Jumo engine.² Longer wings.²
• Ta 152H-0: Pre production.²
• Ta 152H-1: Production.² Some had GM1 nitrous oxide boost.²
• Ta 152E: Reconnaissance version.^1,2
• Ta 152S: Two seat trainer.²
• ??: Photo reconnaissance version.¹ Never became operational.¹
• ??: Attack version.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

The Ta 152s were used to protect Me 262s bases.²

	Focke-Wulf Ta 1522	Focke-Wulf Ta 152C2	Focke-Wulf Ta 152H-11,2
Type	Fighterr2		High altitude fighter1
Crew	12		11
Engine (Type)		Daimler-Benz DB 603LA2	Junkers Jumo 213E piston1,2
Cylinders		Inverted V 122	Inverted V 121,2
Cooling
HP		2,1002	1,7501
HP with MW50 water methanol boost		2,3002	2,0502
Propeller blades		32	31,2
Dimensions
Span		36' 1"2 11 m2	47' 4.5"2, 48' 6"1 14.44 m2, 14.5 m1
Length			35' 1.5"2, 35' 5"1 10.71 m2, 10.8 m1
Height			11' 1"2, 13' 2"1 3.38 m2, 4 m1
Wing area			253 ft2 1 23.5 m2 1
Weight
Empty			8,624 lb1, 8,887 lb2 3,920 kg1, 4,031 kg2
Loaded			10,450 lb1, 10,472 lb2 4,750 kg1,2
Maximum load			11,502 lb2 5,217 kg2
Performance
Speed at sea level			350 mph2 563 kph2
Speed @ 29,860' / 9,100 m with MW50 boost			465 mph2 748 kph2
Speed @ 41,000' / 12,500 m			471 mph1 760 kph1
Speed @ 41,000' / 12,500 m with MW50 or GM1 boost			472 mph2 760 kph2
Cruising speed			311 mph2 500 kph2
Climb			3,445'/minute1,2 1,050 m/minute1,2
Service ceiling			48,550'1, 48,556'2 14,800 m1,2
Range			745 miles1, 755 miles2 1,200 km1, 1,215 km2
Range with drop tanks			1,250 miles2 2,011 km2
Armament
Propeller			30 mm Mk 1081 30 mm2 90 rounds1
Wing			2: 20 mm MG 151/201 20 mm2 175 rounds1

Sources:

1. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
2. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998

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