Messerschmitt Me163b rocket fighter

Messerschmitt Me163b rocket fighter - the original:

The rocket fighter Messerschmitt Me163b was developed at the end of World War II and built by the company Messerschmitt in Germany. It should serve to intercept enemy bombers with kamikaze maneuvers.

Due to the rocket engine, the Me163b was the fastest, but also the riskiest and most dangerous aircraft in the world at the time. Numerous machines exploded when taking off or landing. The flight behavior of the machine was also extremely critical. Many pilots did not survive their mission.

The story of this special aircraft was also recorded and published in a book.

Messerschmitt Me163b rocket fighter - the model:

The model is a 1: 5 scale replica. The fuselage can be purchased via the company Sunshine-Modellbau , it is available in different designs and sizes.

The basis of the Me163b:

My model was built over the years 2007-2008 from a GRP-fuselage, which was reinforced with carbon fabric at the particularly stressed areas.

The wings are cut from styrofoam, covered with balsa wood and GRP fabric.

The details of the Me163b:

The original for my model is exhibited in the Museum of Flight in East Fortune with the works register number 191659.

All built-in components such as motor mounts, battery holders, servo mounts (for tow coupling, drop landing gear and rudder) are made of self-laminated carbon. The cockpit was also made of carbon-aramid honeycomb material, which is extremely lightweight and has a high degree of mechanical strength.

The cockpit instruments are backlit, the electricity for this is supplied by the generator driven by the propeller, as in the original.

The pilot is a scale 1: 5 replica of a fighter pilot from the Second World War, which is also based on the original down to the last detail.

In order to improve the flight characteristics when landing, original slats were attached to the leading edges of the wing. In addition, the model is equipped with airbrakes on the underside of the wings.

As in the original, the speed of the model is measured by means of a pitot probe on the left wing.

The model is prepared for the use of a prototypical rocket drive or alternatively a turbine. So far it has been operated as a pure sailor. As a special effect, a smoke cartridge can be ignited in flight.

The functions of the Me163b in detail:

- Elevator - Ailerons - Rudder - Flaps - Airbrakes - Release tow rope - Drop landing gear - Ignite smoke cartridge