The "Volksflugzeug" ("People's Aircraft") was proposed by the German aero-concern of Focke-Wulf during the latter-half of World War 2 (1939-1945) as a simple, lightweight, single-seat/single-engine fighter solution for the defense of the crumbling Reich. The aircraft appeared in September of 1944 and was proposed in concert with other submissions to fulfill the "Volksjager" ("People's Fighter") requirement, the emergency effort to defend Germany from the onslaught of Allied day and night bombers. Like other entries in the series, the Volksflugzeug did not see the light of day - though the company did proposed both a swept and unswept wing version of their nimble aircraft. Their own technical director, Kurt Tank, held little faith in the Volksjager project as a whole, believing whatever design that was selected would become quickly outclassed by Allied developments by the middle-end of 1945.
The Volksflugzeug took shape in a mere 10 days from the formal issuance of the requirement given on September 7th/8th. Engineers drew up plans for the single-seat solution incorporating its turbojet in the belly and the wing mainplanes fitted at shoulder height. The tail unit would include high-mounted, swept-back horizontal planes along a tapering stem/boom running over the jet exhaust port at the rear. The nose was to contain the air intake for aspirating the turbojet as well as all-cannon armament. The intake duct could run unobstructed under the floor of the cockpit and the engine's position at the middle of the fuselage would ensure a short run of duct would only be needed. A retractable tricycle undercarriage would be featured for ground-running.
In the swept mainplane version, the shoulder-mounted wings were given sweep along both the leading and trailing edges so as to play up the aerodynamic high-speed aspects of the design. The straight-winged version limited performance at high speeds but offered a more conventional, lower risk solution.
Power was to come from the BMW 003A-1 series turbojet engine and proposed armament became 2 x 30mm MK 108 automatic cannons, both fixed and firing forwards from under the cockpit floor.
As drawn up, the fighter has a length of 28.8 feet, a span of 26.6 feet, and a height of 9.3 feet. Loaded weight equaled 6,725lb. Estimated maximum speed was 510 miles-per-hour.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
✓Interception
Ability to intercept inbound aerial threats by way of high-performance, typically speed and rate-of-climb.
✓X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
WING SWEEPBACK
Mainplanes, or leading edges, features swept-back lines for enhanced high-speed performance and handling.
HIGH-SPEED PERFORMANCE
Can accelerate to higher speeds than average aircraft of its time.
HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE
Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.
PILOT / CREW EJECTION SYSTEM
Assisted process of allowing its pilot and / or crew to eject in the event of an airborne emergency.
CREWSPACE PRESSURIZATION
Supports pressurization required at higher operating altitudes for crew survival.
ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)
Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.
RETRACTABLE UNDERCARRIAGE
Features retracting / retractable undercarriage to preserve aerodynamic efficiency.
Length
28.9 ft (8.80 m)
Width/Span
24.6 ft (7.50 m)
Height
9.4 ft (2.85 m)
Empty Wgt
5,401 lb (2,450 kg)
MTOW
6,724 lb (3,050 kg)
Wgt Diff
+1,323 lb (+600 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Focke-Wulf Volksflugzeug production variant)
monoplane / shoulder-mounted / swept-back
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Shoulder-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper section of the fuselage, generally at the imaginary line intersecting the pilot's shoulders.
Swept-Back
The planform features wing sweep back along the leading edges of the mainplane, promoting higher operating speeds.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the Focke-Wulf Volksflugzeug production variant)
Installed:
1 x BMW 003A-1 turbojet engine developing 1,768lb of thrust.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Focke-Wulf Volksflugzeug production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
PROPOSED:
2 x 30mm MK 108 internal automatic cannons under the nose.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings:
Volksflugzeug - Base Project Name.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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Nazi Germany (cancelled)
