WOW557 Focke Wulf Triebflugel

Description

The Focke-Wulf Triebflügel, or Triebflügeljäger, literally meaning “thrust-wing hunter”, was a German concept for an aircraft designed in 1944, during the final phase of WW2, as a defence against the ever-increasing Allied bombing raids on Germany. It was a VTOL tail-sitting interceptor design for local defence of important factories or areas which had small or no airfields.

The Triebflügel had only reached wind-tunnel testing when the Allied forces reached the production facilities.

The design was particularly unusual in that it had no wings and all lift and thrust were provided by a rotor/propeller assembly 1/3 of the way down the side of the craft (roughly halfway between the cockpit and the tailplane). When the plane was sitting on its tail in the vertical position, the rotors would have functioned similarly to a helicopter. When flying horizontally, they would function more like a giant propeller.

The three rotor blades were mounted on a ring assembly supported by bearings, allowing free rotation around the fuselage. At the end of each was a ramjet. To start the rotors spinning, simple rockets would have been used. As the speed increased, the flow of air would have been sufficient for the ramjets to work and the rockets would expire. The pitch of the blades could be varied with the effect of changing the speed and the lift produced. There was no reaction torque to cause a counter rotation of the fuselage, since the rotor blades were driven at their tips by the ramjets. Fuel was carried in the fuselage tanks, and was piped through the centre support ring and along the rotors to the jets.

When taking off, the rotors would be angled to give lift in a similar manner to a helicopter. Once the aircraft had attained sufficient altitude the pilot would tilt it over into level flight. The rotors continued spinning in level flight, maintaining 220 rpm at the aircraft’s maximum forward speed.

To land, the craft had to slow its speed and pitch the fuselage until the craft was vertical. Power could then be reduced and it would descend until the landing gear rested on the ground. This would have been a tricky and dangerous maneuver, given that the pilot would be seated facing upward and the ground would be behind his head at this stage. Unlike some other tailsitter aircraft, the pilot’s seat was fixed in the direction of forward flight. The spinning rotor would also obscure rear vision.

However impractical the design, it was so unique we could not ignore it and have included three of these 1/30 scale fantasy fighters in the TGM collection. This hand carved Mahogany warbird is priced at $999 plus $100 postage and this is included in the banner price, you will not be charged additional postage at checkout. The accessories and figures shown in the photos are for scale comparison photos only and are not included. The rotor propeller assembly dismantles for postage/storage and the body rotates when assembled, just like the real thing!