Heinkel He 176: Difference between revisions

He 176
He 176
	Post war artist impression of the He 176
General information
Type	Experimental
Manufacturer	Heinkel
Status	Cancelled
History
First flight	20 June 1939

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The Heinkel He 176 was a German experimental rocket-powered aircraft. It was the world's first aircraft to be propelled solely by a liquid-fueled rocket, making its first powered flight on 20 June 1939 with Erich Warsitz at the controls.

The He 176 was developed as a private venture by the Heinkel company in accordance with director Ernst Heinkel's emphasis on developing technology for high-speed flight. Work on the project began in 1936 after testing with a modified He 72 and a pair of He 112s had shown rocket propulsion to have some viability. The He 176 was purpose-built to harness this propulsion, rather than a modification of existing piston engined-types. The resulting aircraft was relatively compact, was largely composed of wood, and in some respects relatively simplistic. It also incorporated some novel concepts, such as an unconventional reclined seating position for the pilot along with a unique jettisonable nose escape system for emergencies. In December 1937, the He 176 designation was officially assigned to the aircraft.

On 12 September 1939, the He 176 project was ordered to be cancelled, allegedly due to its unimpressive size and performance. However, the aircraft did provide "proof of concept" for rocket propulsion and high speed flight in general; lessons and designs cues were incorporated into subsequent aircraft such as the Heinkel He 280 prototype jet fighter and the Messerschmitt Me 163 rocket interceptor. The prototype itself along with most documentation related to the He 176 were destroyed by the end of the war. Warsitz stated his belief that some material may have entered the Soviet/Russian archives. The often quoted performance data of the aircraft, such as its speed reaching 750 km/h, or 800 km/h, is drawn from Warsitz's account, and are usually not based on sound documents. Only two true pictures of the He 176 have survived which were probably taken in Peenemünde while undergoing testing.^[1]

Design and development

Background

During the 1920s, German daredevils and inventors had experimented with the use of solid-fuel rockets to propel various vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, railway carriages, snow sleds, and, by 1929, aircraft such as Alexander Lippisch's Ente and Fritz von Opel's RAK.1.^[2] Solid-fuel rockets, however, have major disadvantages when used for aircraft propulsion, as their thrust cannot be throttled, and the engines cannot be shut down until the fuel is exhausted.

In the mid 1930s, the aerospace engineer Wernher von Braun and his rocketry team working at Peenemünde investigated the use of liquid-fuelled rockets for powering aircraft. The German aircraft designer Ernst Heinkel became an enthusiastic supporter of their efforts, initially supplying a He 72 and later a pair of He 112s to support these experiments. During early 1937, one of these aircraft was flown with its piston engine shut down during flight, thus being propelled by rocket power alone.^[3]^[4] At the same time, Hellmuth Walter's experiments into Hydrogen peroxide monopropellant-based rockets were leading towards light and simple rockets that appeared well-suited for aircraft installation, although at the price of considerable danger and limited duration.^[5]^[6]

The experimental flights of the He 112 had been subject to the close attention of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) (the German Reich Aviation Ministry), which had become interested in the potential for a rocket-propelled interceptor aircraft.^[7] Heinkel decided to establish a secret department at its Rostock facility to pursue such endeavours; work commenced as early as 1936.^[8] Unlike the preceding He 112, the design team wanted to produce an aircraft that would be purpose-built to harness this new form of propulsion, and thus achieve superior performance from it; it would be from this effort that the He 176 would emerge.^[9]

Design

The basic design of the He 176 was sketched out during the Neuhardenberg rocket motor and booster tests. In 1936, the RLM awarded Heinkel the contract to build the world's first rocket aircraft. It was decided to tailor-build the aircraft to specifically fit the test pilot Erich Warsitz, to minimise the size of the cockpit, along with the rest of the aircraft, to make the aircraft as lightweight as humanly possible.^[10] The resulting cockpit was so cramped that the pilot could not even flex his elbows while some controls were often placed in inconvenient positions. Due to the high speed range that the He 176 was designed to encounter, the sensitivity of these controls would have to be adjusted multiple times throughout the flight for the pilot to maintain sufficient control.^[11] The cockpit also featured an unconventional reclined seating position was adopted to help the pilot cope with the aircraft's high rate of acceleration, it also helped reduce the frontal area and thereby had performance benefits.^[11] A crude plexiglas glazed section was removable so that the pilot could enter the aircraft.^[10]

The aircraft itself was relatively compact and in some respects fairly simplistic, being composed almost entirely out of wood, but did possess an advanced and entirely enclosed cockpit with a frameless single-piece clear nose.^[12] The undercarriage was a combination of conventional and tricycle gear designs, for which the main gear's struts were intended to retract rearwards into the fuselage while the aerodynamically faired nose wheel and strut were fixed.^[13] The greatest diameter of the fuselage was only 700 millimetres (28 in). The overall surface area, including the fuselage, was 5 square metres (54 sq ft), with a 5 metres (16 ft) wingspan, a fuselage length of 5.5 metres (18 ft), a height with the undercarriage deployed at 1.44 metres (4.7 ft), and a wheelbase of 700 millimetres (28 in).^[14] The aircraft's rudder proved to be relatively ineffective at slow speeds; during takeoff runs, it proved to be a more practical means of steering the aircraft via differential use of the wheel brakes.^[12]

The He 176 featured an elliptical wing that had a wing sweep of 40% and a thickness of 9% at 90 millimetres (3.5 in).^[14] The wing had a slight positive dihedral so that sufficient stability would be maintained.^[10] The fuel tanks were also integrated into the interior of wings; a new welding technique had to be developed to manufacture these. Significant attention was paid to the reduction of aerodynamic drag.^[10] During ground test runs, it was discovered that the wings would often make contact with the ground; to prevent damage from being incurred, the wingtips were outfitted with metal bumpers.^[12]

The design team recognised that the conventional means of escaping the aircraft in an emergency situation by bailing out would be extremely difficult at high speed and possibly impossible without fatal injuries being sustained by the pilot.^[12] Accordingly, the He 176 was equipped with a unique jettisonable nose escape system. Compressed air was used to separate the nose from the aircraft, then a drogue chute was used to reduce the opening force required. After the drogue was deployed, the flush-fitting cockpit canopy was released and a conventional pilot/parachute bailout occurred.^[13] Unmanned scale mockups of the nose section were flight tested from a Heinkel He 111 bomber with positive results.^[12]

The original model of the He 176 was designed to be powered by one of the new Walter engines. This engine was similar to that of the He 112, the primary difference being the doubling of its thrust output to 6,000 Newtons, which was largely achieved via the addition of a pump to draw in propellant instead of using compressed air to push the fuel into the engine.^[10]^[15] The fuel used was 82% hydrogen peroxide.^[10] To provide more effective directional controls while flying at slow speeds, a rudder was to be installed within the engine nozzle itself.^[12] Detailed design work on the aircraft was completed by July 1937, after which construction of the prototype commenced almost immediately.^[8] In December 1937, the He 176 designation was officially assigned to the aircraft.^[16]

Flight testing and cancellation

On 20 June 1939, the He 176 performed its maiden flight piloted by Warsitz, the occasion being the first manned rocket flight in the world.^[8]^[17] Warsitz later described the flight: "On quite another heading from that originally intended she leapt into the air and flew with a yaw and a wobble. I kept her close to the ground while gaining speed, then pulled back gently on the control stick for rapid ascent. I was at 750 kms/hr and without any loss in speed the machine shot skywards at an angle somewhere between vertical and 45°. She was enormously sensitive to the controls...Everything turned out wonderfully, however, and it was a relief to fly round the northern tip of Usedom Island without a sound at 800 kms/hr. I banked sharp left again to straighten up for the airstrip, losing such speed and altitude as I could, and during this steep turn the rocket died as the tanks dried up. The abrupt loss of speed hurled me forward in my restraint straps. I pressed the stick forward, hissed rapidly over the Penne and came in at 500 kms/hr. I crossed the airfield boundary and after several prescribed little bounces the machine came to a stop."^[18]

Following the initial test flight, the aircraft received alterations; allegedly the fixed nose wheel was removed at this point as the design team intended for regular landings to use only the two main wheels and the tail.^[10] Following an initial round of flight testing, Heinkel demonstrated the He 176 to the RLM, however, the organisation displayed a lack of official interest in the aircraft. According to Warsitz, speaking of Von Braun's cooperation during the tests at Pennemunde: "Although not technically part of the He 176-V1 project with the Walter rocket engine, naturally everything affecting it was of interest to himself and his colleagues because the He 176-V2 was to have the von Braun engine..."^[14]

The RLM's unfavourable attitude towards the aircraft was a major contributor to Heinkel's decision to reduce his involvement in rocket propulsion efforts. On 12 September 1939, the discontinuation of the He 176 test programme was officially ordered, allegedly due to dissatisfaction with its performance and size.^[19]^[20] Only the one aircraft was ever completed prior to the termination of flight testing. After its retirement, the sole He 176 prototype was put on static display at the Berlin Air Museum, it was destroyed by an Allied bombing raid during 1943.^[13]

Impact

Prior to the cancellation of the programme, Heinkel had been in the process of designing a more sophisticated rocket powered aircraft, sometimes referred to the He 176 V2, which was allegedly intended for operational use.^[10] For this model, a more powerful von Braun engine would have been used, which would have allegedly allowed the He 176 V2 to reach speeds of up to 1,000 kph or 620 mph.^[10] No such aircraft were ever constructed, but because it bore the same designation as the aircraft that was actually flown, many books and websites mistakenly publish pictures of this aircraft when intending to illustrate its earlier namesake.^{[citation needed]}

Some of the technical knowledge gained through the He 176 was incorporated into future projects undertaken by Heinkel, such as the He 280 prototype jet fighter.^[17]

Germany did eventually fly an operational rocket-propelled fighter, the Alexander Lippisch-designed Me 163 Komet, but this was produced by the competing Messerschmitt firm. By the time that orders to terminate work on the He 176 had been received, early work on the Me 163 project had already commenced.^[21] It was powered by a similar rocket engine that was actually a further development of the unit that had powered the He 176.^{[citation needed]}

Specifications (He 176 V1)

Data from Heinkel: An aircraft album^[22]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 5.21 m (17 ft 1 in)
Wingspan: 5.00 m (16 ft 5 in)
Height: 1.435 m (4 ft 8.5 in)
Wing area: 5.4 m² (58 sq ft)
Empty weight: 900 kg (1,985 lb)
Gross weight: 1,620 kg (3,572 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Walter HWK R1-203 liquid-fuelled rocket engine, 5.88 kN (1,323 lbf) thrust , 50 s burn time

Performance

Maximum speed: 750 km/h (466 mph, 405 kn) estimated
Cruise speed: 710 km/h (441 mph, 383 kn) estimated
Range: 109 km (68 mi, 59 nmi)
Service ceiling: 9,000 m (29,500 ft)
Rate of climb: 60.6 m/s (11,930 ft/min)
Time to altitude: 2.5 minutes to 8,000 m (26,250 ft)

References

Citations

^ Koos, Volker. Heinkel He 176 – Dichtung und Wahrheit, Jet&Prop 1/94. pp. 17–21.
^ Van Pelt 2009, pp. 1-5.
^ Van Pelt 2009, pp. 59-62.
^ Neufeld 2013, pp. 58-59.
^ Van Pelt 2009, pp. 60-61.
^ Neufeld 2013, p. 84.
^ Van Pelt 2009, p. 67.
^ ^a ^b ^c LePage 2009, p. 246.
^ Van Pelt 2009, pp. 67-68.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Van Pelt 2009, p. 68.
^ ^a ^b Van Pelt 2009, pp. 68-69.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Van Pelt 2009, p. 69.
^ ^a ^b ^c Tuttle 2002, ^{[page needed]}.
^ ^a ^b ^c Warsitz 2008, pp. 69–85.
^ Neufeld 2013, pp. 59-60.
^ Neufeld 2013, p. 60.
^ ^a ^b Heath 2022, p. 213.
^ Warsitz 2008, pp. 97–98.
^ LePage 2009, p. 247.
^ Neufeld 2013, p. 121.
^ Neufeld 2013, p. 61.
^ Turner 1970, pp. 100–101.

Bibliography

Heath, Tim (2022). In Furious Skies: Flying with Hitler's Luftwaffe in the Second World War. Pen and Sword History. ISBN 978-1-5267-8526-8.
LePage, Jean-Denis G.G. (2009). Aircraft of the Luftwaffe, 1935-1945: An Illustrated Guide. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5280-4.
Munson, Kenneth (1978). German Aircraft Of World War 2 in colour. Poole, Dorset, UK: Blandford Press. ISBN 0-7137-0860-3.
Neufeld, Michael J. (2013). The Rocket and the Reich. Smithsonian. ISBN 978-1588344670.
Pelt, Michel van (2012). Rocketing Into the Future: The History and Technology of Rocket Planes. New York, US: Springer. ISBN 978-1461432005.
Turner, St. John P. (1970). Heinkel: An aircraft album. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 07110-01731.
Tuttle, Jim (2002). Eject! The Complete History of U.S. Aircraft Escape Systems. St. Paul, Minnesota, US: MBI Publishing. ISBN 0-7603-1185-4.
Warsitz, Lutz (2008). The First Jet Pilot: The Story of German Test Pilot Erich Warsitz. Barnsley: Pen and Sword aviation. ISBN 9781844158188.

External links

Myhra, David (2013). Heinkel He 176: The untold story of the first liquid-fuelled rocket aircraft in history. RCW Ebook Publishing.

[1] Koos, Volker. Heinkel He 176 – Dichtung und Wahrheit, Jet&Prop 1/94. pp. 17–21.

[vanpelt_15-2] Van Pelt 2009, pp. 1-5.

[vanpelt_592-3] Van Pelt 2009, pp. 59-62.

[4] Neufeld 2013, pp. 58-59.

[vanpelt_601-5] Van Pelt 2009, pp. 60-61.

[neufeld_84-6] Neufeld 2013, p. 84.

[vanpelt_67-7] Van Pelt 2009, p. 67.

[lepage_246-8] LePage 2009, p. 246.

[vanpelt_678-9] Van Pelt 2009, pp. 67-68.

[vanpelt_68-10] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Van Pelt 2009, p. 68.

[vanpelt_689-11] Van Pelt 2009, pp. 68-69.

[vanpelt_69-12] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Van Pelt 2009, p. 69.

[Tuttle-13] Tuttle 2002, ^{[page needed]}.

[Warsitz-14] Warsitz 2008, pp. 69–85.

[15] Neufeld 2013, pp. 59-60.

[neufeld_60-16] Neufeld 2013, p. 60.

[heath_213-17] Heath 2022, p. 213.

[Warsitz_978-18] Warsitz 2008, pp. 97–98.

[lepage_247-19] LePage 2009, p. 247.

[neufeld_121-20] Neufeld 2013, p. 121.

[neufeld_61-21] Neufeld 2013, p. 61.

[Stjohnturner-22] Turner 1970, pp. 100–101.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{short description|Experimental rocket plane}}
 <!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
-{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
+{{Infobox aircraft
   |name = He 176
   |image = Heinkel he 176 san diego air and space museum.jpg
-  |caption =  Post war artist impression of the He 176
+  |caption = Post war artist impression of the He 176
-}}{{Infobox aircraft type
   |type = Experimental
   |manufacturer = [[Heinkel]]
-  |image =
   |designer =
-  |first flight = 20 June 1939
+  |first_flight = 20 June 1939
-  |introduced =
+  |introduction =
   |retired =
   |status = Cancelled
-  |primary user =
+  |primary_user =
-  |more users =
+  |more_users =
   |produced =
-  |number built =
+  |number_built =
   |unit cost =
-  |variants with their own articles =
+  |variants =
 }}
-|}
-The '''Heinkel He 176''' was a [[Nazi Germany|German]] [[Rocket plane|rocket-powered]] [[aircraft]]. It was the world's first aircraft to be propelled solely by a [[liquid-fueled rocket]], making its first powered flight on 20 June 1939 with [[Erich Warsitz]] at the controls. It was a private venture by the Heinkel company in accordance with director [[Ernst Heinkel]]'s emphasis on developing technology for high-speed flight. The performance of the He 176 was not spectacular, but it did provide "proof of concept" for rocket propulsion.
+The '''Heinkel He 176''' was a [[Nazi Germany|German]] experimental [[Rocket plane|rocket-powered]] aircraft. It was the world's first aircraft to be propelled solely by a [[liquid-fueled rocket]], making its first powered flight on 20 June 1939 with [[Erich Warsitz]] at the controls.
+The He 176 was developed as a private venture by the Heinkel company in accordance with director [[Ernst Heinkel]]'s emphasis on developing technology for high-speed flight. Work on the project began in 1936 after testing with a modified [[Heinkel He 72|He 72]] and a pair of [[Heinkel He 112|He 112]]s had shown rocket propulsion to have some viability. The He 176 was purpose-built to harness this propulsion, rather than a modification of existing piston engined-types. The resulting aircraft was relatively compact, was largely composed of wood, and in some respects relatively simplistic. It also incorporated some novel concepts, such as an unconventional reclined seating position for the pilot along with a unique jettisonable nose escape system for emergencies. In December 1937, the He 176 designation was officially assigned to the aircraft.
-All documents regarding the He 176 were destroyed during the war. The Warsitz biography suggests material is in the Soviet/Russian archives. The often quoted performance data of the aircraft, such as a speed reaching 750&nbsp;km/h, or 800&nbsp;km/h in Warsitz's biography, as well as some of the drawings, are not based on sound documents. Only two true pictures of the He 176 have survived which were probably taken in Peenemünde during tests.<ref>Volker Koos, ''Heinkel He 176 – Dichtung und Wahrheit,'' Jet&Prop 1/94 p. 17–21</ref>
+On 12 September 1939, the He 176 project was ordered to be cancelled, allegedly due to its unimpressive size and performance. However, the aircraft did provide "proof of concept" for rocket propulsion and high speed flight in general; lessons and designs cues were incorporated into subsequent aircraft such as the [[Heinkel He 280]] prototype jet fighter and the [[Messerschmitt Me 163]] rocket interceptor. The prototype itself along with most documentation related to the He 176 were destroyed by the end of the war. Warsitz stated his belief that some material may have entered the [[Soviet]]/Russian archives. The often quoted performance data of the aircraft, such as its speed reaching 750&nbsp;km/h, or 800&nbsp;km/h, is drawn from Warsitz's account, and are usually not based on sound documents. Only two true pictures of the He 176 have survived which were probably taken in [[Peenemünde]] while undergoing testing.<ref>Koos, Volker. ''Heinkel He 176 – Dichtung und Wahrheit,'' Jet&Prop 1/94. pp. 17–21.</ref>
 ==Design and development==
+===Background===
-During the 1920s, [[Germany|German]] [[Stunt performer|daredevil]]s had experimented with using solid-fuel rockets to propel [[Automobile|car]]s, [[motorcycle]]s, [[railway]] carriages, snow [[sled]]s, and, by 1929, [[aircraft]] such as [[Alexander Lippisch]]'s ''[[Ente]]'' and [[Fritz von Opel]]'s [[Opel RAK.1 (plane)|RAK.1]]. Solid-fuel rockets, however, have major disadvantages when used for aircraft propulsion, as their [[thrust]] cannot be throttled, and the engines cannot be shut down until fuel is exhausted.
+[[File:Opel RAK1 2.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Opel RAK.1, world's first public flight of a rocket-powered aircraft on September 30, 1929, piloted by [[Fritz von Opel]]]]
+During the 1920s, [[Germany|German]] [[Stunt performer|daredevil]]s and inventors had experimented with the use of solid-fuel rockets to propel various vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, railway carriages, snow sleds, and, by 1929, aircraft such as [[Alexander Lippisch]]'s ''[[Ente]]'' and [[Fritz von Opel]]'s [[Opel RAK.1 (plane)|RAK.1]].<ref name = "vanpelt 15">Van Pelt 2009, pp. 1-5.</ref> Solid-fuel rockets, however, have major disadvantages when used for aircraft propulsion, as their [[thrust]] cannot be throttled, and the engines cannot be shut down until the fuel is exhausted.
+In the mid 1930s, the aerospace engineer [[Wernher von Braun]] and his rocketry team working at [[Peenemünde]] investigated the use of liquid-fuelled rockets for powering aircraft. The German aircraft designer [[Ernst Heinkel]] became an enthusiastic supporter of their efforts, initially supplying a [[Heinkel He 72|He 72]] and later a pair of [[Heinkel He 112|He 112]]s to support these experiments. During early 1937, one of these aircraft was flown with its [[piston engine]] shut down during flight, thus being propelled by rocket power alone.<ref name = "vanpelt 592">Van Pelt 2009, pp. 59-62.</ref><ref>Neufeld 2013, pp. 58-59.</ref> At the same time, [[Hellmuth Walter]]'s experiments into [[Hydrogen peroxide]] [[monopropellant]]-based rockets were leading towards light and simple rockets that appeared well-suited for aircraft installation, although at the price of considerable danger and limited duration.<ref name = "vanpelt 601">Van Pelt 2009, pp. 60-61.</ref><ref name = "neufeld 84">Neufeld 2013, p. 84.</ref>
+The experimental flights of the He 112 had been subject to the close attention of the ''[[Reich Air Ministry|Reichsluftfahrtministerium]] (RLM)'' (the German Reich Aviation Ministry), which had become interested in the potential for a rocket-propelled [[interceptor aircraft]].<ref name = "vanpelt 67">Van Pelt 2009, p. 67.</ref> Heinkel decided to establish a secret department at its [[Rostock]] facility to pursue such endeavours; work commenced as early as 1936.<ref name = "lepage 246">LePage 2009, p. 246.</ref> Unlike the preceding He 112, the design team wanted to produce an aircraft that would be purpose-built to harness this new form of propulsion, and thus achieve superior performance from it; it would be from this effort that the He 176 would emerge.<ref name = "vanpelt 678">Van Pelt 2009, pp. 67-68.</ref>
+===Design===
+The basic design of the He 176 was sketched out during the [[Neuhardenberg]] rocket motor and booster tests. In 1936, the [[Ministry of Aviation (Nazi Germany)|RLM]] awarded Heinkel the contract to build the world's first rocket aircraft. It was decided to tailor-build the aircraft to specifically fit the test pilot [[Erich Warsitz]], to minimise the size of the [[cockpit]], along with the rest of the aircraft, to make the aircraft as lightweight as humanly possible.<ref name = "vanpelt 68">Van Pelt 2009, p. 68.</ref> The resulting cockpit was so cramped that the pilot could not even flex his elbows while some controls were often placed in inconvenient positions. Due to the high speed range that the He 176 was designed to encounter, the sensitivity of these controls would have to be adjusted multiple times throughout the flight for the pilot to maintain sufficient control.<ref name = "vanpelt 689"/> The cockpit also featured an unconventional reclined seating position was adopted to help the pilot cope with the aircraft's high rate of acceleration, it also helped reduce the frontal area and thereby had performance benefits.<ref name = "vanpelt 689">Van Pelt 2009, pp. 68-69.</ref> A crude [[Poly(methyl methacrylate)|plexiglas]] glazed section was removable so that the pilot could enter the aircraft.<ref name = "vanpelt 68"/>
+The aircraft itself was relatively compact and in some respects fairly simplistic, being composed almost entirely out of wood, but did possess an advanced and entirely enclosed cockpit with a frameless single-piece clear nose.<ref name = "vanpelt 69">Van Pelt 2009, p. 69.</ref> The [[landing gear|undercarriage]] was a combination of [[Conventional landing gear|conventional]] and [[tricycle gear]] designs, for which the main gear's struts were intended to retract rearwards into the fuselage while the aerodynamically [[Aircraft fairing|faired]] nose wheel and strut were fixed.<ref name="Tuttle"/> The greatest diameter of the fuselage was only {{convert|700|mm|in}}. The overall surface area, including the fuselage, was {{convert|5|sqm|sqft}}, with a {{convert|5|m|ft}} wingspan, a fuselage length of {{convert|5.5|m|ft}}, a height with the undercarriage deployed at {{convert|1.44|m|ft}}, and a [[wheelbase]] of {{convert|700|mm|in}}.<ref name="Warsitz"/> The aircraft's [[rudder]] proved to be relatively ineffective at slow speeds; during takeoff runs, it proved to be a more practical means of steering the aircraft via differential use of the wheel brakes.<ref name = "vanpelt 69"/>
+The He 176 featured an [[elliptical wing]] that had a [[wing sweep]] of 40% and a thickness of 9% at {{convert|90|mm|in}}.<ref name="Warsitz"/> The wing had a slight positive [[Dihedral (aeronautics)|dihedral]] so that sufficient stability would be maintained.<ref name = "vanpelt 68"/> The fuel tanks were also integrated into the interior of wings; a new [[welding]] technique had to be developed to manufacture these. Significant attention was paid to the reduction of [[Drag_(physics)#Aerodynamics|aerodynamic drag]].<ref name = "vanpelt 68"/> During ground test runs, it was discovered that the wings would often make contact with the ground; to prevent damage from being incurred, the wingtips were outfitted with metal bumpers.<ref name = "vanpelt 69"/>
+The design team recognised that the conventional means of escaping the aircraft in an emergency situation by [[Parachuting|bailing out]] would be extremely difficult at high speed and possibly impossible without fatal injuries being sustained by the pilot.<ref name = "vanpelt 69"/> Accordingly, the He 176 was equipped with a unique jettisonable nose escape system. Compressed air was used to separate the nose from the aircraft, then a [[Drogue parachute|drogue chute]] was used to reduce the opening force required. After the drogue was deployed, the flush-fitting cockpit [[Aircraft canopy|canopy]] was released and a conventional pilot/parachute bailout occurred.<ref name="Tuttle">Tuttle 2002, {{page needed|date=May 2023}}.</ref> Unmanned scale mockups of the nose section were flight tested from a [[Heinkel He 111]] bomber with positive results.<ref name = "vanpelt 69"/>
+The original model of the He 176 was designed to be powered by one of the new [[Hellmuth Walter Kommanditgesellschaft|Walter]] engines. This engine was similar to that of the He 112, the primary difference being the doubling of its thrust output to 6,000 Newtons, which was largely achieved via the addition of a pump to draw in propellant instead of using compressed air to push the fuel into the engine.<ref name = "vanpelt 68"/><ref>Neufeld 2013, pp. 59-60.</ref> The fuel used was 82% [[hydrogen peroxide]].<ref name = "vanpelt 68"/> To provide more effective directional controls while flying at slow speeds, a rudder was to be installed within the engine nozzle itself.<ref name = "vanpelt 69"/> Detailed design work on the aircraft was completed by July 1937, after which construction of the prototype commenced almost immediately.<ref name = "lepage 246"/> In December 1937, the He 176 designation was officially assigned to the aircraft.<ref name = "neufeld 60">Neufeld 2013, p. 60.</ref>
-In the late 1930s, [[Wernher von Braun]]'s rocketry team working at [[Peenemünde]] investigated installing liquid-fuelled rockets in aircraft. Heinkel enthusiastically supported their efforts, supplying a [[Heinkel He 72|He 72]] and later two [[Heinkel He 112|He 112]]s for the experiments. In early 1937, one of these latter aircraft was flown with its [[piston engine]] shut down during flight, at which time it was propelled by rocket power alone. At the same time, [[Hellmuth Walter]]'s experiments into [[Hydrogen peroxide]] [[monopropellant]]-based rockets were leading towards light and simple rockets that appeared well-suited for aircraft installation, although at the price of considerable danger and limited duration.
+===Flight testing and cancellation===
-The He 176 was built to utilise one of the new [[Hellmuth Walter Kommanditgesellschaft|Walter]] engines. It was a tiny, simple aircraft, built almost entirely out of wood, but did possess an advanced, totally enclosed [[cockpit]], with a frameless single-piece clear nose, through which the pilot's [[rudder]] pedal mounts were visible, and the [[landing gear]] was a combination of [[Conventional landing gear|conventional]] and [[tricycle gear]] designs, with the main gear's struts intended to retract rearwards into the fuselage, with a fixed, aerodynamically [[Aircraft fairing|faired]] nose wheel and strut, a clumsy plexiglas bubble installed after the pilot entered the plane as described by Warsitz and shown, barely, in the one take off photograph, which cockpit was built around Warsitz's frame, and a retractable tail wheel.<ref>http://www.luft46.com/prototyp/he176.html</ref>  The drawing here shows a flush glazing.   There is no evidence this was actually used.  A unique feature of the He 176 was its jettisonable nose escape system. Compressed air was used to separate the nose from the aircraft. A [[Drogue parachute|drogue chute]] was used to reduce the opening force required. After the drogue was deployed, the flush-fitting cockpit [[Aircraft canopy|canopy]] was released and a conventional pilot/parachute bailout occurred.<ref name="Tuttle">Tuttle, Jim. ''Eject! The Complete History of U.S. Aircraft Escape Systems''. St. Paul, Minnesota: MBI Publishing Company, 2002. {{ISBN|0-7603-1185-4}}.</ref>
+On 20 June 1939, the He 176 performed its [[maiden flight]] piloted by Warsitz, the occasion being the first manned rocket flight in the world.<ref name = "lepage 246"/><ref name = "heath 213">Heath 2022, p. 213.</ref> Warsitz later described the flight: "On quite another heading from that originally intended she leapt into the air and flew with a yaw and a wobble. I kept her close to the ground while gaining speed, then pulled back gently on the control stick for rapid ascent. I was at 750 kms/hr and without any loss in speed the machine shot skywards at an angle somewhere between vertical and 45°. She was enormously sensitive to the controls...Everything turned out wonderfully, however, and it was a relief to fly round the northern tip of [[Usedom|Usedom Island]] without a sound at 800 kms/hr. I banked sharp left again to straighten up for the airstrip, losing such speed and altitude as I could, and during this steep turn the rocket died as the tanks dried up. The abrupt loss of speed hurled me forward in my restraint straps. I pressed the stick forward, hissed rapidly over the Penne and came in at 500 kms/hr. I crossed the airfield boundary and after several prescribed little bounces the machine came to a stop."<ref name="Warsitz 978">Warsitz 2008, pp. 97–98.</ref>
-The basic design of the He 176 was sketched out during the [[Neuhardenberg]] rocket motor and booster tests.  According to Walter Künzel, "...The He 176 project came into existence during the flight trials of the [[He 112]] at Neuhardenburg. It was a bold project for the time and involved numerous new problems. At this time the term 'interceptor' was being bandied about and the He 176 was to be the research aircraft for the 'interceptor'." In 1936, the [[Ministry of Aviation (Nazi Germany)|RLM]] awarded Heinkel the contract to build the world's first rocket aircraft. For the mock-up, Warsitz sat on a parachute with everything everything else tailored around him, the idea being to build a small aircraft capable of speeds greater than {{convert|1000|kph|mph}}. The greatest diameter of the fuselage was only {{convert|700|mm|in}}. Overall surface area, including the fuselage, was {{convert|5|sqm|sqft}}, with a {{convert|5|m|ft}} wingspan, a fuselage length of {{convert|5.5|m|ft}}, a height with the undercarriage deployed at {{convert|1.44|m|ft}}, and a [[wheelbase]] of {{convert|700|mm|in}}. The elliptical wing had a [[wing sweep]] of 40% and a thickness of 9% at {{convert|90|mm|in}}.  The wings contained the 82% [[hydrogen peroxide]] fuel. According to Warsitz, speaking of Von Braun's cooperation during the tests a [[Pennemunde]], "Although not technically part of the He 176-V1 project with the Walter rocket engine, naturally everything affecting it was of interest to himself and his colleagues because the He 176-V2 was to have the von Braun engine..."<ref name="lw">{{cite book |last1=Warsitz |first1=Lutz |title=The First Jet Pilot: The Story of German Test Pilot Erich Warsitz |date=2008 |publisher=Pen and Sword aviation |location=Barnsley |isbn=9781844158188 |pages=69–85}}</ref>
+Following the initial test flight, the aircraft received alterations; allegedly the fixed nose wheel was removed at this point as the design team intended for regular landings to use only the two main wheels and the tail.<ref name = "vanpelt 68"/> Following an initial round of flight testing, Heinkel demonstrated the He 176 to the RLM, however, the organisation displayed a lack of official interest in the aircraft. According to Warsitz, speaking of Von Braun's cooperation during the tests at [[Pennemunde]]: "Although not technically part of the He 176-V1 project with the Walter rocket engine, naturally everything affecting it was of interest to himself and his colleagues because the He 176-V2 was to have the von Braun engine..."<ref name="Warsitz">Warsitz 2008, pp. 69–85.</ref>
+The RLM's unfavourable attitude towards the aircraft was a major contributor to Heinkel's decision to reduce his involvement in rocket propulsion efforts. On 12 September 1939, the discontinuation of the He 176 test programme was officially ordered, allegedly due to dissatisfaction with its performance and size.<ref name = "lepage 247">LePage 2009, p. 247.</ref><ref name = "neufeld 121">Neufeld 2013, p. 121.</ref> Only the one aircraft was ever completed prior to the termination of flight testing. After its retirement, the sole He 176 prototype was put on static display at the Berlin Air Museum, it was destroyed by an [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[airstrike|bombing raid]] during 1943.<ref name="Tuttle"/>
-Warsitz describes the world's first manned rocket flight of 20 June 1939, "On quite another heading from that originally intended she leapt into the air and flew with a yaw and a wobble. I kept her close to the ground while gaining speed, then pulled back gently on the control stick for rapid ascent. I was at 750 kms/hr and without any loss in speed the machine shot skywards at an angle somewhere between vertical and 45°. She was enormously sensitive to the controls...Everything turned out wonderfully, however, and it was a relief to fly round the northern tip of [[Usedom|Usedom Island]] without a sound at 800 kms/hr. I banked sharp left again to straighten up for the airstrip, losing such speed and altitude as I could, and during this steep turn the rocket died as the tanks dried up. The abrupt loss of speed hurled me forward in my restraint straps. I pressed the stick forward, hissed rapidly over the [[Penne]] and came in at 500 kms/hr. I crossed the airfield boundary and after several prescribed little bounces the machine came to a stop."<ref name=lw/>{{rp|97–98}}
+===Impact===
-Heinkel demonstrated the aircraft to the [[Reich Air Ministry|RLM]], but official lack of interest led to the abandonment of the company's rocket propulsion programme. Testing of the He 176 ended with only one aircraft being built. It was put on display at the Berlin Air Museum and was destroyed by an [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[airstrike|bombing raid]] in 1943.<ref name="Tuttle"/>
+Prior to the cancellation of the programme, Heinkel had been in the process of designing a more sophisticated rocket powered aircraft, sometimes referred to the ''He 176 V2'', which was allegedly intended for operational use.<ref name="vanpelt 68" /> For this model, a more powerful von Braun engine would have been used, which would have allegedly allowed the He 176 V2 to reach speeds of up to 1,000 kph or 620 mph.<ref name = "vanpelt 68"/> No such aircraft were ever constructed, but because it bore the same designation as the aircraft that was actually flown, many books and websites mistakenly publish pictures of this aircraft when intending to illustrate its earlier namesake.{{CN|date=May 2023}}
+Some of the technical knowledge gained through the He 176 was incorporated into future projects undertaken by Heinkel, such as the [[Heinkel He 280|He 280]] prototype jet fighter.<ref name = "heath 213"/>
-Prior to the cancellation of the programme, plans had been drawn up for a more sophisticated rocket-plane, the hypothetical He 176 V2. This was never constructed, but because it bore the same designation as the aircraft that was actually flown, many books and websites mistakenly publish pictures of it to illustrate its earlier namesake.  This is primarily the post war Gerd Heumann airbrush job and the basis for this is unknown.
-Germany did eventually fly an operational rocket-propelled fighter, the [[Alexander Lippisch]]-designed [[Messerschmitt Me 163|Me 163 ''Komet'']], but this was made by the competing [[Messerschmitt]] firm, using an engine that was a further development of the one that powered the He 176.
+Germany did eventually fly an operational rocket-propelled fighter, the [[Alexander Lippisch]]-designed [[Messerschmitt Me 163|Me 163 ''Komet'']], but this was produced by the competing [[Messerschmitt]] firm. By the time that orders to terminate work on the He 176 had been received, early work on the Me 163 project had already commenced.<ref name = "neufeld 61">Neufeld 2013, p. 61.</ref> It was powered by a similar rocket engine that was actually a further development of the unit that had powered the He 176.{{CN|date=May 2023}}
 ==Specifications (He 176 V1)==
-[[File:Heinkel He 176.svg|thumb|300px|Heinkel He 176 V1 with main gear retracted]]
+[[File:Heinkel He 176 3-view line drawing.svg|thumb|300px|Heinkel He 176 V1 with main gear retracted]]
 {{Aircraft specs
-|ref=Heinkel:An aircraft album<ref name=Stjohnturner>{{cite book|last=St. John Turner|first=P.|title=Heinkel:An aircraft album|year=1970|publisher=Ian Allan|location=Shepperton|isbn=07110-01731|pages=100–101}}</ref>
+|ref = ''Heinkel: An aircraft album''<ref name=Stjohnturner>Turner 1970, pp. 100–101.</ref>
-|prime units?=met
+|prime units?= met
 <!--
         General characteristics
@@ Line 54: / Line 70: @@
 |genhide=
-|crew=1
+|crew= 1
 |capacity=
 |length m=
-|length ft=17
+|length ft= 17
-|length in=1
+|length in= 1
 |length note=
 |span m=
-|span ft=16
+|span ft= 16
-|span in=5
+|span in= 5
 |span note=
 |upper span m=
@@ Line 89: / Line 105: @@
 |width note=
 |height m=
-|height ft=4
+|height ft= 4
-|height in=8.5
+|height in= 8.5
 |height note=
 |wing area sqm=
-|wing area sqft=58
+|wing area sqft= 58
 |wing area note=
 |swept area sqm=<!-- swing-wings -->
@@ Line 104: / Line 120: @@
 |airfoil=
 |empty weight kg=
-|empty weight lb=1985
+|empty weight lb= 1,985
 |empty weight note=
 |gross weight kg=
-|gross weight lb=3572
+|gross weight lb= 3,572
 |gross weight note=
 |max takeoff weight kg=
@@ Line 120: / Line 136: @@
         Powerplant
 -->
-|eng1 number=1
+|eng1 number= 1
-|eng1 name=[[Walter HWK R1-203]]
+|eng1 name= Walter HWK R1-203
-|eng1 type=liquid-fuelled rocket engine
+|eng1 type= liquid-fuelled rocket engine
 |eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
 |eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->
 |eng1 shp=<!-- prop engines -->
 |eng1 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
-|eng1 lbf=1323
+|eng1 lbf= 1,323
 |eng1 note=, 50 s burn time
 |power original=
@@ Line 179: / Line 195: @@
 |max speed kmh=
-|max speed mph=466
+|max speed mph= 466
 |max speed kts=
 |max speed note=estimated
 |max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
 |cruise speed kmh=
-|cruise speed mph=441
+|cruise speed mph= 441
 |cruise speed kts=
 |cruise speed note=estimated
@@ Line 200: / Line 216: @@
 |minimum control speed note=
 |range km=
-|range miles=68
+|range miles= 68
 |range nmi=
 |range note=
@@ Line 213: / Line 229: @@
 |endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
 |ceiling m=
-|ceiling ft=29500
+|ceiling ft= 29,500
 |ceiling note=
 |g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
 |roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
 |glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
-|climb rate ms=60.6
+|climb rate ms= 60.6
 |climb rate ftmin=
 |climb rate note=
-|time to altitude=2.5 minutes to {{convert|26250|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
+|time to altitude= 2.5 minutes to {{convert|26250|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
 |sink rate ms=<!-- sailplanes -->
 |sink rate ftmin=<!-- sailplanes -->
@@ Line 262: / Line 278: @@
 |similar aircraft=
 |lists=
-*[[List of military aircraft of Germany]]
+* [[List of military aircraft of Germany]]
-*[[List of rocket aircraft]]
+* [[List of rocket aircraft]]
 |see also=
 }}
 ==References==
+===Citations===
 {{Reflist}}
+===Bibliography===
+* {{cite book |last = Heath |first = Tim |title = In Furious Skies: Flying with Hitler's Luftwaffe in the Second World War |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=RWuEEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA220 |publisher = Pen and Sword History |date = 2022 |isbn = 978-1-5267-8526-8}}
+* {{cite book |first = Jean-Denis G.G. |last = LePage |title = Aircraft of the Luftwaffe, 1935-1945: An Illustrated Guide |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=hdQBTcscxyQC&pg=PA243 |year = 2009 |publisher = McFarland |isbn = 978-0-7864-5280-4}}
+* {{cite book |last = Munson |first = Kenneth |title = German Aircraft Of World War 2 in colour |location = Poole, Dorset, UK |publisher = Blandford Press |year = 1978 |isbn = 0-7137-0860-3}}
+* {{cite book |last = Neufeld |first = Michael J. |title = The Rocket and the Reich |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=J8NvDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA60 |publisher = [[Smithsonian]] |date = 2013 |isbn = 978-1588344670}}
+* {{cite book |last = Pelt |first = Michel van |title = Rocketing Into the Future: The History and Technology of Rocket Planes |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4M9i-FXVKckC&pg=PA68 |publisher = Springer |location = New York, US |date = 2012 |isbn = 978-1461432005}}
+* {{cite book |last = Turner |first = St. John P. |title = Heinkel: An aircraft album |year = 1970 |publisher = Ian Allan |location = Shepperton |isbn = 07110-01731}}
+* {{cite book |last = Tuttle |first = Jim |title = Eject! The Complete History of U.S. Aircraft Escape Systems |location = St. Paul, Minnesota, US |publisher = MBI Publishing |date = 2002 |isbn = 0-7603-1185-4}}
+* {{cite book |last1 = Warsitz |first1 = Lutz |title = The First Jet Pilot: The Story of German Test Pilot Erich Warsitz |date = 2008 |publisher = Pen and Sword aviation |location = Barnsley |isbn = 9781844158188}}
 ==External links==
 {{commons category|Heinkel He 176}}
+* {{cite book |last = Myhra |first = David |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-UwFAQAAQBAJ |title = Heinkel He 176: The untold story of the first liquid-fuelled rocket aircraft in history |publisher = RCW Ebook Publishing |date = 2013}}
-*[http://www.luft46.com/prototyp/he176.html Luft '46 entry on the He 176 V1 prototype]
 {{Heinkel aircraft}}
@@ Line 279: / Line 306: @@
 [[Category:1930s German experimental aircraft]]
 [[Category:Rocket-powered aircraft]]
-[[Category:World War II experimental aircraft of Germany]]
 [[Category:Cancelled aircraft projects]]
 [[Category:Heinkel aircraft|He 176]]

v t e Reich Air Ministry (RLM) aircraft designations (list)
1 to 100	8-1¹ Fi 2 8-3¹ 8-4¹ Fi 5 DFS 6 8-7¹ Gö 8 Gö 9 Do 10 Do 11/Wn 11 8-12⁴/Do 12 Do 13 Do 14 Do 15 Do 16/Wn 16 Do 17 Do 18 Do 19 Do 20 8-21¹ Do 22 Do 23 Do 24 Do 25³/Kl 25 Do 26/Kl 26 8-27/Do 27³/Kl 27⁵ 8-28¹ 8-29/Do 29 Fw 30 Kl 31 Kl 32 Ju 33 Ju 34 Kl 35 Kl 36 He 37³ He 38/Ju 38 DFS 39 BV 40/DFS 40 He 41³ Fw 42/He 42 Fw 43 Fw 44 He 45 He 46/Ju 46 Fw 47/He 47 Ju 48 He 49/Ju 49 He 50/Ju 50 He 51 He 52/Ju 52 Ju 53 DFS 54/NR 54 Fw 55/NR 55 Fw 56 8-57⁴/Fw 57 Fw 58/He 58 He 59 He 60/Ju 60 Fa 61/Fw 61/He 61 Fw 62/He 62 8-63⁴/He 63 Ar 64/He 64 Ar 65/He 65 Ar 66/He 66 Ar 67 Ar 68 Ar 69 He 70 8-71⁴/He 71 He 72 He 73³ He 74 Al 75 Ar 76/FZG 76⁶ Ar 77 Ar 78³ Ar 79 Ar 80 Ar 81 8-82⁴ 8-83¹ Al 84 Ju 85 Ju 86 Ju 87 Ju 88 Ju 89 Ju 90 Ju 91³ Ju 92 Ju 93³ Ju 94³ Ar 95 Ar 96 Fi 97 Fi 98 Fi 99 Fi 100³/He 100
101 to 200	Al 101 Al 102 Al 103/Fi 103 R Fh 104 Kl 105 Kl 106 Kl 107 Bf 108 Bf 109/Bf 109R⁶ Bf 110 He 111/He 111U⁶ He 112 He 113⁶ He 114 He 115 He 116 He 117³/Hs 117 He 118 He 119 He 120 Hs 121 Hs 122 Hs 123 Hs 124 Hs 125 Hs 126 Hs 127 Hs 128 Hs 129 Hs 130 Bü 131 Bü 132³/Hs 132 Bü 133 Bü 134 Ha 135 Ha 136/Hü 136 Ha 137 BV 138 Ha 139 Ha 140 BV 141 BV 142 BV 143 BV 144 Go 145 Go 146 Go 147/Ju 147 Go 148³ Go 149 Go 150 Kl 151 Kl 152/Ta 152 Kl 153³/Ta 153 Kl 154³/Ta 154 BV 155/Kl 155³/Me 155 Fi 156 Fi 157 Fi 158 Fw 159 Ju 160 Bf 161 Bf 162/He 162 Bf 163/Li 163/Me 163 Me 164/MeC 164 Bf 165 Fi 166/FK 166 Fi 167 Fi 168 Fi 169³ He 170 He 171³ He 172 He 173³ He 174³ 8-175⁴ He 176 He 177 He 178 He 179⁵ Bü 180/He 180 Bü 181 Bü 182 Bü 183³/Ta 183 Fl 184 Fl 185 Fw 186/Ju 186 Fw 187/Ju 187² Fw 188³/Ju 188 Fw 189 Fw 190 Fw 191 Ao 192 Ao 193³/DFS 193 DFS 194/Me 194 Ar 195 Ar 196 Ar 197 Ar 198 Ar 199/FiSk 199 Do 200^4,6/Fw 200
201 to 300	Si 201 Si 202 DFS 203 Si 204 8-205¹ Fw 206 8-207¹ Me 208 Me 209 (I)/Me 209 (II) Me 210 Hü 211 8-212⁴/Do 212 8-213¹ Do 214 Do 215 Do 216 Do 217/Hs 217 Do 218³ He 219 He 220 Do 221³ BV 222 Fa 223 Fa 224 Ao 225/Fa 225 BV 226/Ho 226 FGP 227 DFS 228 Go 229/Ho 229 8-230/DFS 230 Ar 231 Ar 232 Ar 233 Ar 234 Do 235⁵ Fa 236³ BV 237 BV 238 8-239¹ Ar 240 Go 241 Go 242 Me 243³ Go 244 Go 245³ BV 246 8-247¹ Ju 248 BV 250/Ho 250 Ho 251 Ho 252 Ju 252 Fi 253/Ho 253 Ho 254/Ta 254 8-255¹ Fi 256 SK 257 8-258¹ Fw 259 8-260¹ Me 261/Me 261w Me 262 Me 263 (1941)/Me 263 (1942)/Me 263 (1945) Me 264 Fl 265/Me 265 Fa 266/Go 266³ Ho 267 Ju 268 Fa 269 He 270 We 271 He 272³ He 273³ He 274 He 275⁵ He 276³ He 277 He 278 He 279³ He 280 He 281³ Fl 282 Fa 283 Fa 284 Fl 285 Ju 286 Ju 287 Do 288^4,6/Ju 288 Ju 289³ Ju 290 Hs 291 As 292/Hs 292³ Hs 293 Hs 294 Hs 295 Ar 296/Hs 296 Hs 297 Hs 298 Ju 299³ Fw 300
301 to 349	DFS 301 8-302¹ 8-303¹ 8-304¹ 8-305¹ 8-306¹ 8-307¹ 8-308¹ Me 309 Zwilling Me 310 8-311¹ 8-312¹ 8-313⁴ 8-314¹ Hs 315 8-316¹ Do 317 Do 318 He 319 Me 320³ Me 321 Ju 322 Me 323/ZMe 323 8-324¹ Fa 325/Fw 325³ 8-326¹ Me 327 Me 328 Me 329 Fa 330 DFS 331 DFS 332 Fi 333 Ar 334³/Me 334 Do 335 Fa 336 Ju 337³ 8-338¹ Fl 339 Ar 340 8-341 WNF 342 He 343 Rk 344/So 344⁵ Go 345 DFS 346 Rk 347 8-348¹ Ba 349
Post-349 (non-sequential)	Ju 352 Fi 356/Ju 356 Me 362 Me 364² Me 368³ Ju 388 Ju 390 Fw 391 Ar 393³ Ar 396 Ta 400 Me 409 Me 410 Do 417 He 419 ZMe 423 Ar 430/Ka 430 Ar 432 Do 435 Ar 440 8-445⁴ DFS 446 Ju 452 Me 462² DFS 468 Ju 488 Fw 491 He 500 Me 509 Me 510 He 519 8-520⁴ ZSO 523 Ar 532 8-534⁴ Do 535/He 535 Me 600² Me 609 Ar 632 Do 635/He 635/Ju 635
¹ Not assigned ² Unofficial/proposed ³ Assigned, but not used before RLM was dissolved ⁴ Assigned to captured aircraft ⁵ Unconfirmed ⁶ Propaganda/cover designation Note: Official RLM designations had the prefix "8-", but this was usually dropped and replaced with the manufacturer's prefix.