Walter HWK 109-500
HWK 109-500 | |
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HWK 109-500 on display at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford
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Type | Liquid-propellant rocket (assist unit) |
Manufacturer | Hellmuth Walter Kommanditgesellschaft |
Number built | 6,000 |
The Walter HWK 109-500 was a liquid-fuelled rocket engine developed by Walter in Germany during the Second World War.
Description
The 109-500 is a self-contained, modular monopropellant Starthilfe (take-off assist) engine in a pod, able to produce 500 kg (1,100 lb) thrust for thirty seconds. After the fuel was expended, the pod was jettisoned and it returned to earth by parachute,[1] with the parachute packed externally, onto the blunt forward end of the pod.
The
It entered service in 1942, and some 6,000 were built, by Heinkel.[1] It was "used extensively on a wide range of aircraft", especially the potentially underpowered (when heavily laden with external ordnance) Jumo 004-engined Arado Ar 234B,[1] with two of the units uniquely displayed as mounted operationally on the NASM's sole surviving, restored Ar 234B.
Applications
- Arado Ar 234
- Blohm & Voss BV 138
- Junkers Ju 88
- Heinkel He 111
- Messerschmitt Me 321
- Messerschmitt Me 323
Specifications
Data from The race for Hitler's X-planes : Britain's 1945 mission to capture secret Luftwaffe technology,[1] Die Deutsche Luftruestung 1933–1945 Vol.4 – Flugzeugtypen MIAG-Zeppelin[3]
General characteristics
- Type: Liquid propellant rocket
- Length:
- Diameter:
- Dry weight: 125 kg (276 lb)
- Loaded weight: 250 kg (550 lb)
Components
- Compressor:
- catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide(80% H2O2) in a single decomposition chamber without combustion.
- Fuel type: oxidiser catalysed by Z-Stoffpermanganate catalyst)
Performance
- Maximum thrust: 4.90 kN (1,102 lbf)
- Thrust-to-weight ratio: 2 loaded; 4 at exhaustion
See also
- Walter HWK 109-507 guided ordnance booster rocket module
Related lists
Notes
- ^ ISBN 978-0752464572.
- ^ Reddin, Shamus. "Walter HWK 109-500 RI-201: "Cold" Rocket Assisted Take-Off Pack". walterwerke.co. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- ISBN 3-7637-5468-7.
External links
- "Luftwaffe RATO engines - Walter HWK 500". You Tube. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- British 'Walterwerke' Reference Page on HWK 109-500 Starthilfe RATO Unit
- Polish Aviation Museum online infopage on the uprated, experimental HWK 109-501 RATO booster
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