How It Works-Amazing Vehicles

“The Me 262 was

the most advanced

aviation design

brought to fruition

during World War II”

Me 262 A-1a

Crew: 1

Length: 10.6m (34.8ft)

Wingspan: 12.6m (41.5ft)

Height: 3.5m (11.5ft)

Weight: 3,795kg (8,367lb)

Powerplant:

2 x Junkers Jumo 004 B-1

turbojet engines (1,980lbf each)

Max speed:

900km/h (559mph)

Range: 1,050km (652mi)

Max altitude:

11,450m (37,566ft)

Armament: 4 x 30mm MK 108

cannons, 24 x 55mm R4M

rockets, 2 x 250kg bombs

The statistics...

© DK Images

Engines

Extreme speed comes courtesy of t wo Junkers Jumo

004 turbojet engines, each delivering a whopping

900kgf (1,980lbf). This gave the fighter a top speed of

900km/h (560mph), over 160km/h (100mph) more

than its nearest competitor.

Wings

The Me 262 sported a

swept-wing profile, with

a leading edge sweep of

18.5°. This sweep was

added to the aircraft – the

original design did not

feature swept wings – as

the Jumo 004 engines

proved heavier than

expected and the centre

of lift needed to

be repositioned.

Instrumentation

Flight instruments in the Me 262’s

cockpit included an artificial

horizon, bank and turn indicators,

airspeed indicator, altimeter, rate of

climb indicator, repeater compass

and blind approach indicator.

Armament

Weapon r y included fou r

30mm (1.2in) MK 108 cannons,

24 55mm (2.1in), unguided

R4M rockets and either t wo

250kg or 500kg (550lb or

1,100lb) free-fall bombs.

© Matthias Kabel

© Noop1958

The Me 262’s engines allowed

a top speed of 900km/h

in fl eet fl y time, w ith few aircraft in the air at any

one time. Due to its aerial dominance, A llied forces

soon identifi ed the Me 262’s potential threat

and dedicated large quantities of bombing

sorties to destroying construction factories and

launch bases.

DID YOU KNOW? The Messerschmitt Me 262 was the first operational, jet-powered fighter aircraft in the world