The second of four "Strahljager" single-seat, single-engine fighter designs promoted by engine-maker BMW was recognized simply as "Projekt II". This offering reversed a few of the design decisions of the earlier P.I detailed elsewhere on this site but relocating the dorsal engine placement to the ventral line, employing a more conventional single-finned tail unit, and positioning the pilot in the prone position. The unique prone approach offered a considerably smaller footprint for the fighter, which would have carried the company's own BMW 003 turbojet engine for power, and theoretically would have allowed the pilot's body to incur forces at higher angles of attack.
The mainplanes were set just ahead of midships and the horizontal planes mounted at the midway point of the tailfin. Sweepback was only apparent along the wing's leading edge. With the engine's placement at the belly of the design, a straight-through configuration meant reduced ductwork and force-defeating turns. The intake sat at the nose with the exhaust port seen just under the tail stem (forcing the empennage to be slightly raised as a result). To round things out, a retractable tricycle undercarriage was to be featured for ground-running.
Like the P.I before it, the P.II would have featured 2 x 30mm MK 108 automatic cannons as primary armament, these seated in the wings (one gun to a wing) due to the small profile nose section dominated by the air intake as well as the cockpit itself.
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
(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.
Length
29.5 ft (9.00 m)
Width/Span
24.4 ft (7.43 m)
Height
8.4 ft (2.57 m)
Empty Wgt
3,417 lb (1,550 kg)
MTOW
6,063 lb (2,750 kg)
Wgt Diff
+2,646 lb (+1,200 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the BMW Strahljager II production variant)
monoplane / shoulder-mounted / straight
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.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the BMW Strahljager II production variant)
Installed:
1 x BMW 003 turbojet engine developing between 1,345lb and 1,750lb of thrust.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the BMW Strahljager II 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)
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
Strahljager P.1 - Base Project Designation.
Strahljager P.2 - Second form with underslung engine placement, prone cockpit position; conventional tail unit; high-mounted mainplanes..
Strahljager P.3 - Third iteration; twin-boom (unconnected) layout with inward-canted tailplanes.
Strahljager P.4 - Dimensionally larger and heavier offering; ventral engine placement; conventional tail unit; swept-back mainplanes seated ahead of midships.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
Similar Aircraft
Aviation developments of similar form and function, or related to, the BMW Strahljager II (P.II)...
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com.
Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing all American military medals and ribbons.
Nazi Germany
