Abgeleitet von den Pionierarbeiten des Dr. Alexander Lippisch war die raketengetriebene Messerschmitt 163 eine verzweifelte Notlösung, den alliierten Bomberströmen während den letzten Kriegsmonaten Einhalt zu gebieten. Durch die angewandte Mischbauweise (Rumpf aus Metall, Tragflächen aus Holz) wurden mangelnde Rohstoffe kompensiert.

Der Halbdelta-Flügler wurde von einem Walter Raketenmotor mit 3748 Pfund Schubkraft angetrieben und erreichte eine Geschwindigkeit von fast 990 km/h bei einem Treibstoffvorrat für eine Flugdauer von 8-10 Minuten. Die Hauptbewaffnung bestand aus zwei 30mm MK108 Kanonen. Außerdem bestand die Wahlmöglichkeit zwischen 24 Unterflügelraketen oder vier vertikal eingebauten Raketen. Diese sollten von einer photoelektrischen Linse durch den Schatten eines Bombers ausgelöst werden.

Aufgrund der begrenzten Reichweite und Lebensdauer war die ME 163 als reiner Abfangjäger konzipiert. Nach dem Start wurde das Hilfsfahrwerk abgeworfen und die Komet stieg mit 3540 Meter pro Minute über die gegnerischen Bomberformationen. Von dort aus hatte der Pilot die Chance zu ein bis zwei Angriffen mit Höchstgeschwindigkeit. Dabei hatte er ungefähr drei Sekunden Zeit zum Zielen und Feuern.

Man hoffte darauf, dass der Überraschungseffekt den kleinen Jäger sprichwörtlich unverwundbar machte. Nachdem der Treibstoff verbraucht war, sollte die ME 163 zu dem Heimathorst zurücksegeln. Unglücklicherweise war das Flugzeug genau zu diesem Zeitpunkt sehr verwundbar und eine leichte Beute für umherstreifende alliierte Jäger.

The German Me 163 was one of the most unusual aircraft of Wolrd War II. Fortunately, its potential impact was minimized by technical problems and the small number produced.

Evolved from the pioneering aerodynamic research of Dr. Alexander Lippisch, the rocket powered Messerschmitt 163 Komet was designed as a stopgap to stem the flood of allied bombers over Germany in the remaining months of World War II. Of mixed construction, metal fuselage and wooden wings, the Me 163 was designed for easy fabrication and reduced dependence on scarce wartime resources. Designed for the sole objective of attacking allied bomber formations, the semi-delta wing Me 163B was powered by a 3,748 Ib. thrust Walter rocket motor which allowed it to reach a level speed of 596 mph with sufficient fuel for 8 to 10 minutes of powered flight. Armament consisted of two 30 mm MK108 cannon, 24 underwing rockets, or four vertically discharged rockets fired by a photoelectric cell as the Komet flew into the shadow beneath an enemy bomber.

With limited duration and range (50miles), the Me 163 functioned as a pure Interceptor. After take-off the Komet would jettison the trolley style main wheels and use its amazing 11.800 feet per minute climb rate to rapidly climb above the allied bomber formations. From here the pilot could execute one or two extremely high speed attacks where he would have approximately 3 seconds to aim and discharge his weapons. lt was hoped that the extremely high speed of the Komet would render it virtually impervious to defensive fire from the bombers. After the rocket fuel was expended, the unpowered Me 163 would glide back to its base and land on an extended underfuselage skid. Unfortunately, the slow and sluggish Me 163 glider was an easy target for marauding allied fighter planes.

"Project X," the secret code name for the proposed tailless interceptor, began in 1937 under the direction of Dr. Alexander Lippisch. The intent was to develop a high-speed, fast-climbing defensive fighter by using a rocket engine. The first Me 163A prototypes were tested in 1941, but powered flight testing of the more advanced Me 163B was delayed until August 1943 by engine and fuel problems. Although the Komet's rocket engine gave it a phenomenal climb rate, range was severely limited by its high fuel consumption. Furthermore, the hazardous fuels used were extremely volatile and sometimes exploded without warning, killing a number of pilots.

Production Me 163Bs were not ready for operational use until July 1944. The Luftwaffe planned to have small units of Komets dispersed to intercept Allied bomber formations, but only 279 Me 163Bs were delivered by the end of the war. The sole operational Komet group, JG 400, scored 9 kills while losing 14 of its own aircraft.

The aircraft shown above was owned and restored by the Canadian National Aviation Museum and acquired by the U.S. Air Force Museum in 1999.

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 30 ft. 7.3 in.
Length: 19 ft. 2.3 in.
Height: (on takeoff dolly) 9 ft. 0.66 in.
Armament: Two 30 mm MK 108 cannons
Engine: Walter HWK 509A-2 rocket with 3,748 lbs. thrust

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 596 mph.
Initial climb rate: 16,000 ft. per min.
Combat range: about 50 miles
Service Ceiling: 39,500 ft.
Maximum powered endurance: 7.5 minutes