Focke-Wulf Ta 283
Nazi Germany (1945)
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The Focke-Wulf Ta 283 was a proposed German wartime fighter-interceptor utilizing a combination rocket-ramjet propulsion scheme.
Detailing the development and operational history of the Focke-Wulf Ta 283 Fighter-Interceptor Aircraft Proposal. Entry last updated on 9/14/2017. Authored by Staff Writer. Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com
Also known as "Projekt 283" or "P.283", the Ta 283 was one of several programs being designed along the lines of ramjet engine propulsion by the end of the war. Ramjets offered considerable gains in overall speed when compared to even the fastest piston-powered fighters of the era but these systems could not take-over propulsion of an aircraft until reaching approximately 150 miles per hour. This required other propulsion means to first assist the aircraft into the air on take-off - rocket engine / boosters or turbojet engines were the norm. Ramjets used an air-breathing process similar to a jet engine to produce their thrust but relied on the engine's forward motion to compress oncoming air and generate thrust in turn. Conversely, jet engines utilized on onboard axial compressor to achieve the same result.
Kurt Tank of Focke-Wulf, designer of the famous wartime Fw 190 piston-driven fighter, funded some of Dr. Otto Pabst's gains in the field of ramjet technology. The ramjet had finally reached a position of formal testing by 1945 which helped to prove the design as a viable aircraft propulsion unit to some. To this point, no single aircraft had been flown solely under the power of a ramjet engine so the ground being traversed was quite new to all involved.
Even before 1945, the German Air Ministry was in need of fast performing fighters to combat Allied bomber formations and called for a ramjet-powered fighter-interceptor design. Tank responded with his Ta 283 submission which utilized a pair of ramjet engines as well as a rocket drive unit to achieve take-off. While the design was headed by Tank, the airframe was drawn up by one Hans Multhopp - designer of the wartime Ta 183 "Huckabein" jet-swept-wing, jet-powered fighter as well as the American post-war Martin XB-51 jet-powered bomber. He also lent his design talents to the Martin X-23 "PRIME" lifting body aircraft for the USAF in the post-war years.
The end result was a slim, aerodynamically-refined aircraft with a noticeably pointed nose and a fuselage cross section not unlike the Messerschmitt 262 Schwalbe jet-powered fighter. The wing mainplanes were low-mounted along the fuselage sides and each incorporated 45-degree sweep along their leading edges. The cockpit was set over midships with decent views about the aircraft. A sole HWK 509A bi-fuel liquid rocket engine was buried within the fuselage to provide initial drive power on take-off with the ramjet pair - 2 x Focke-Wulf Pabst units - situated aft on the tips of the swept-back horizontal tailplanes. The single vertical tail fin was of a large-area design, emanating from the rear section of the cockpit (restricting views to the critical "six") while adding to the Ta 283's unique overall shape. A wheeled tricycle undercarriage was envisioned with the nose leg held at the extreme front end of the airframe and the main legs found under the center mass of the aircraft. The legs were all quite short in their design which promoted a very low profile for the aircraft when at rest.
Armament was to be 2 x 30mm MK 108 cannons and fitted under the frontal section of the airframe at the nose. The only recorded dimensions of the Ta 283 were a length of 11.8 meters and a wingspan of 8 meters. Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) was estimated at 5,380 kilograms and other estimated figures included a maximum speed of 700 miles per hour with a operational ranges reaching 430 miles and a service ceiling up to 32,800 feet. Rate-of-climb was nearly 4,000 feet per minute thanks to the rocket / ramjet propulsion scheme.
As was the case with so many advanced, late-war endeavors by German aviation industry, the Ta 283 never material beyond its paper treatment by war's end in 1945. This left the design wholly unproven and helped it to fall into military aviation obscurity as one of the fantastic "Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe".
The end result was a slim, aerodynamically-refined aircraft with a noticeably pointed nose and a fuselage cross section not unlike the Messerschmitt 262 Schwalbe jet-powered fighter. The wing mainplanes were low-mounted along the fuselage sides and each incorporated 45-degree sweep along their leading edges. The cockpit was set over midships with decent views about the aircraft. A sole HWK 509A bi-fuel liquid rocket engine was buried within the fuselage to provide initial drive power on take-off with the ramjet pair - 2 x Focke-Wulf Pabst units - situated aft on the tips of the swept-back horizontal tailplanes. The single vertical tail fin was of a large-area design, emanating from the rear section of the cockpit (restricting views to the critical "six") while adding to the Ta 283's unique overall shape. A wheeled tricycle undercarriage was envisioned with the nose leg held at the extreme front end of the airframe and the main legs found under the center mass of the aircraft. The legs were all quite short in their design which promoted a very low profile for the aircraft when at rest.
Armament was to be 2 x 30mm MK 108 cannons and fitted under the frontal section of the airframe at the nose. The only recorded dimensions of the Ta 283 were a length of 11.8 meters and a wingspan of 8 meters. Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) was estimated at 5,380 kilograms and other estimated figures included a maximum speed of 700 miles per hour with a operational ranges reaching 430 miles and a service ceiling up to 32,800 feet. Rate-of-climb was nearly 4,000 feet per minute thanks to the rocket / ramjet propulsion scheme.
As was the case with so many advanced, late-war endeavors by German aviation industry, the Ta 283 never material beyond its paper treatment by war's end in 1945. This left the design wholly unproven and helped it to fall into military aviation obscurity as one of the fantastic "Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe".
Our Data Modules allow for quick visual reference when comparing a single entry against contemporary designs. Areas covered include general ratings, speed assessments, and relative ranges based on distances between major cities.
Relative Maximum Speed Rating
Hi: 750mph
Lo: 375mph
This entry's maximum listed speed (693mph).
Graph average of 562.5 miles-per-hour.
City-to-City Ranges
NYC
LON
LON
PAR
PAR
BER
BER
MOS
MOS
TOK
TOK
SYD
SYD
LAX
LAX
NYC
Graph showcases the Focke-Wulf Ta 283's operational range (on internal fuel) when compared to distances between major cities.
Aviation Era
Useful in showcasing the era cross-over of particular aircraft/aerospace designs.
Unit Production Comparison
Comm. Market HI*: 44,000 units
Military Market HI**: 36,183 units
0
0
* Commercial Market High belongs to Cessna 172.
** Military Market High belongs to Ilyushin Il-2.
Altitude Visualization
Compare this entry against other aircraft using our Comparison Tool
Supported Mission Types:
Air-to-Air
Interception
Unmanned
Ground Attack
Close-Air Support
Training
Anti-Submarine
Anti-Ship
Airborne Early Warning
MEDEVAC
Electronic Warfare
Maritime/Navy
Aerial Tanker
Utility/Transport
Passenger Industry
VIP Travel
Business Travel
Search/Rescue
Recon/Scouting
Special Forces
X-Plane/Development
Origin: Nazi Germany
Year: 1945
Type: Fighter-Interceptor Aircraft Proposal
Manufacturer(s): Focke-Wulf - Nazi Germany
Production: 0
Global Operators:
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Historical Commitments / Honors:
* Ribbons not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns/operations.
Unless otherwise noted the presented statistics below pertain to the Focke-Wulf Ta 283 model. Common measurements, and their respective conversions, are shown when possible.
Operational
CREW
Personnel
1
Dimension
LENGTH
Feet
38.71 ft
Meters
11.8 m
Dimension
WIDTH
Feet
26.25 ft
Meters
8 m
Weight
LOADED
Pounds
11,861 lb
Kilograms
5,380 kg
1 x HWK 509A bi-fuel liquid rocket engine with 2 x Focke-Wulf Pabst ramjet engines developing 2,645 lb of thrust.
Performance
SPEED
Miles-per-Hour
693 mph
Kilometers-per-Hour
1,115 kph
Knots
602 kts
Performance
RANGE
Miles
429 mi
Kilometers
690 km
Nautical Miles
373 nm
Performance
CEILING
Feet
32,808 ft
Meters
10,000 m
Miles
6.21 mi
Performance
CLIMB RATE
Feet-per-Minute
4,000 ft/min
Meters-per-Minute
1,219 m/min
Supported Weapon Systems:
Armament - Hardpoints (0):
PROPOSED:
2 x 30mm MK 108 cannons in nose.
PROPOSED:
2 x 30mm MK 108 cannons in nose.
Variants:
Series Model Variants
• Ta 283 - Base Series Designation
• Projekt 283 (P.283) - Alternative project name
• Ta 283 - Base Series Designation
• Projekt 283 (P.283) - Alternative project name