Me-163 Komet - Wings of the Luftwaffe

[Hisroyalhighness]

[commanding]

besides flying at 600 mph plus, the Comet I think was able to take off on a shorter runway (as well as land on a grass field I think?) which was handy because the cratering of the runways by allied bomber. The "swept wing" design, was an astonishing breakthru in aviation, I think achieved by both the German and Brit designers earlier than the USA. By the Korean war the US and USSR both had embraced the swept wing design...and I was surprised that the aircraft flown by Chuck Yeager to break the sound barrier did not have swept wing design...which leads me to believe I don't understand the concept well. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing (for me).

[Eoin666]

besides flying at 600 mph plus, the Comet I think was able to take off on a shorter runway (as well as land on a grass field I think?) which was handy because the cratering of the runways by allied bomber. The "swept wing" design, was an astonishing breakthru in aviation, I think achieved by both the German and Brit designers earlier than the USA. By the Korean war the US and USSR both had embraced the swept wing design...and I was surprised that the aircraft flown by Chuck Yeager to break the sound barrier did not have swept wing design...which leads me to believe I don't understand the concept well. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing (for me).

And more pilots and ground crew were killed flying or servicing the thing than due to enemy action

[commanding]

And more pilots and ground crew were killed flying or servicing the thing than due to enemy action

was that due mainly to the volitile fuel mixture and "newness" of the technology?

[JCR]

In contrary to the Me 262, the 163 was never a viable weapon.
In addition to the technical shortcomings, it was so short ranged it had to be stationed literally in sight of the likely bomber target.
Also the armament was not suited for the aircraft as the 30mm cannon were too slow firing for the high speed gliding passes.
Especially since usually only one pass could be made on US bombers.

Generally it was too immature to be a weapon and judging from other nations, rocket fighters were problably not worth it alltogether.
The Me 163 was a good design for a research plane, but not a weapon for war, but Lippisch, like all other german designers, had to deliver something that was immidiately usable.

[Jurpula]

A flying Kübelwagen that decides to catch fire and explode randomly makes for a nice terror weapon.

[Lt-Col A. Tack]

Really amazing. Wild west of rocket development.

[Breakfast in Vegas]

Getting assigned to fly the Komet was a tough break indeed.

[LineDoggie]

Getting assigned to fly the Komet was a tough break indeed.

Not so much Ice Cream and unicorns for the Fuelers either. Great idea make the fuel melt flesh or explode at whim.

[armored_diplomacy]

In contrary to the Me 262, the 163 was never a viable weapon.
In addition to the technical shortcomings, it was so short ranged it had to be stationed literally in sight of the likely bomber target.
Also the armament was not suited for the aircraft as the 30mm cannon were too slow firing for the high speed gliding passes.
Especially since usually only one pass could be made on US bombers.

Generally it was too immature to be a weapon and judging from other nations, rocket fighters were problably not worth it alltogether.
The Me 163 was a good design for a research plane, but not a weapon for war, but Lippisch, like all other german designers, had to deliver something that was immidiately usable.

^^
Very good point there

[boone]

A flying Kübelwagen that decides to catch fire and explode randomly makes for a nice terror weapon.

Terrorize who?
The pilots, surely.

[Pandemonium]

In contrary to the Me 262, the 163 was never a viable weapon.
In addition to the technical shortcomings, it was so short ranged it had to be stationed literally in sight of the likely bomber target.
Also the armament was not suited for the aircraft as the 30mm cannon were too slow firing for the high speed gliding passes.
Especially since usually only one pass could be made on US bombers.

Generally it was too immature to be a weapon and judging from other nations, rocket fighters were problably not worth it alltogether.
The Me 163 was a good design for a research plane, but not a weapon for war, but Lippisch, like all other german designers, had to deliver something that was immidiately usable.

Generally it was too immature to be a weapon and judging from other nations, rocket fighters were problably not worth it alltogether.
The Me 163 was a good design for a research plane, but not a weapon for war, but Lippisch, like all other german designers, had to deliver something that was immidiately usable.[/QUOTE]


They had to fight gigantic allied aircraft box formations with only 2-3 komets, and there is tha fact that bombers could take suite a lot of damage before being shot down, I don't think that there are any numbers on aircraft damaged by the Komet.
Strange that they didn't mention the jagdfaust, I always tought that it was the most spectacular weapon of the Komet

thanks for the video btw

[CJvR]

Think of it as a manned AA missile instead of a fighter.

[D-Mitch]

Do not forget that Me-163 had no proper landing gear making takeoffs and landings difficult and dangerous..

[Kunal Biswas]

ME-163 was not a effective fighter, It was more of a vengeance fighter to make fear..

ME-262 were very effective fighters but take lots of resources..

In my view if Germany produced more heinkel he 162 salamander would have better results..



Though these were very late in war..