Heinkel He 219

The Heinkel He 219 was a fighter plan of night built by the Germany at the end of the Second world war. Rapid, powerful, handy and armed well, it could have had a great influence on the conflict but less than 300 were used (priority being granted to the hunters of day).

Design

The project of He 219 " UHU" (owl) started during the summer 1940. Monoplane with wings high and double rudders, it had been designed like a very modern machine multi-roles: pressurized cabin, three-wheeled train, defensive armament in remote-controlled turrets. The cockpit very out of glass granted an exceptional visibility to the 2 men of crew who had sat back with back. The ministry for the German air was interested in the project only at the end of 1941, and required its transformation into night hunter. The prototype stole on November 15th, 1942. The armament was only made up of guns of 20 mm of which some were placed in oblique on the back, to draw to the top, while the principal battery, under the belly, could not in no case to dazzle the pilot.

He 219 was the first plane in the world equipped with ejector seats, well before the first planes of the allied countries

Its engagements

At the time of its first mission of test, in the night from June 11th to 12th 1943, the first He 219 destroyed five bombers in half an hour and a total of twenty in ten days, including six De Havilland Mosquito considered before as quasi invulnerable. Mosquito was besides its principal rival during its short career.

Characteristics

Heinkel He 219 A2/R1 Driving hunter of night 1943
Daimler Benz dB 603A with 12 cylinders of 1750 ch each one
Dimensions scale 18m50; length 15m55; height 4m11
Laden weight 11200 kilos
Speed max 670 km/h
Ceiling 12700 meters
Autonomy 2000 km
Armament 6 guns of 20 mm

Alternatives

A2/R1 first model of hunting of night
A5/R1/R2/R3/R4 different and alternatives from armaments
produced model principal A7, with six guns of 30 mm and two of 20 Misters

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