Lippisch Delta IV
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DFS 39 | |
---|---|
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Role | Experimental |
Manufacturer | Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug |
Designer | Alexander Lippisch |
First flight | 1936 |
Number built | 1 |
Developed from | Fieseler F 3 |
Variants | DFS 40 |
Design and development
Fieseler F 3 Wespe
The project began with an order from Gerhard Fieseler for a design that his company could build for him to fly in the 1932 Europarundflug air rally. The result was a highly unorthodox design, sporting large delta wings, canards, and an engine and propeller mounted in both the nose and tail of the plane.
Fieseler built this design as the F 3 Wespe ("Wasp"), but it proved highly unstable, causing Fieseler to crash it on his first flight. Further refinements were unable to correct these deficiencies, and after one final crash, Fieseler abandoned the aircraft.
DFS 39
Lippisch continued to believe that the problems were surmountable, and found an ally in Professor
Although this flew much better than its predecessor, it was still involved in a very serious crash which led to an investigation of Lippisch's endeavours. The RLM and the DVL (
The aircraft was rebuilt again, this time incorporating new aerodynamic refinements based on Lippisch's experiences with his recent Storch X glider. The new incarnation, dubbed Delta IVb proved to be a step in the right direction.
Success finally came with a last round of changes. The aircraft was rebuilt yet again, making the sweep of its wings less severe, and adding small, downturned fins at their tips. The fuselage was lengthened somewhat, and a small rudder was added to it. Now called the Delta IVc, the result was finally what Lippisch had been looking for. In 1936, the aircraft was taken to the
Messerschmitt Me 163
It proved to be an extremely stable and well-behaved design, and now attracted the interest of the RLM as the basis for a rocket-powered research aircraft. The work was kept secret and the new variant of the Delta IV referred to as Project X. The airframe was to make significant use of metal construction, which was not available at the DFS, so Lippisch and Projekt X were transferred to Messerschmitt. It was redesignated the Me 163 and would eventually appear as the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet rocket fighter.[1]
Specifications (DFS 39d)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/KN_Flyngwinggraph_Lippisch_DFS39_1936.jpg/220px-KN_Flyngwinggraph_Lippisch_DFS39_1936.jpg)
Data from Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945 Vol.1 – AEG-Dornier [2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 5.4 m (17 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
- Height: 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
- Wing area: 13.4 m2 (144 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 390 kg (860 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 600 kg (1,323 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 150 L (40 US gal; 33 imp gal) fuel; 16 L (4.2 US gal; 3.5 imp gal) oil
- Powerplant: 1 × Pobjoy R 7-cylinder air-cooled geared radial piston engine 85 PS (84 hp; 63 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed wooden fixed-pitch propeller, 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) diameter
Performance
- Maximum speed: 220 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn) at sea level
- Cruise speed: 180 km/h (110 mph, 97 kn)
- Landing speed:70 km/h (43 mph; 38 kn)
- Range: 1,350 km (840 mi, 730 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 6,300 m (20,700 ft)
- Rate of climb: 5.8 m/s (1,140 ft/min)
- Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 3 minutes
References
- ^ Lippisch, Alexander M. "Tailless Tailpiece". Air Enthusiast. September 1972. pp.136-8, 150.
- ISBN 978-3-7637-5464-9.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
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- DFS 39 prototype – Wehrmacht History