Warbird Information Exchange

...The HE-176 with Erich Warsitz at the controls c. June 1939. On take-off, the aircraft made a slight bank to the left the pilot commented, & the rest became history! More details here also:

http://www.firstjetpilot.com



http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x60 ... 1/qcy0.jpg

HE-176 Folks:

I believe this He-176 was an early prototype & never went into production as such. c. 1939. Photo via AEC

...then came the He-178 test flights with E. Warsitz as a test pilot. c. 1939. This sample shown was a tail dragger, other pics show the He-178 with a nose landing gear. Photo via AEC.

....with time another prototype showed-up!

The Me-262, A tail dragger during the first test flights & then with nose landing gear afterwards. 194x for now. It flew quite well as an interceptor but other folks in the chain of command wanted it to be used as bomber! Photo via AEC.

..by the end of WW II c. 1944 many were found abandoned or semi-destroyed near German Autobahns. Phoro AAF archives.

I don't think I've ever seen a drawing or photo of the He 178 with other than a tail skid or tail wheel. I'd be curious to see it with a tricycle gear. Thanks.

Randy

RW:

Good day!

There is only one photo known to exist of the He-176 with a nose landing gear installed. The photo included below c. 1939. The story of the test trials of this aircraft are quite unique. There was also a wooden model dropped fm a He-111 for aerodynamics/test purposes. It was also towed at high speed with a fast convertible Mercedes for ground tests.

At the end of the day the top echelon were not impressed with the test results due to the dangers/handling of the liquid fuel & range. This one & the only sample built was destroyed at the Berlin Museum c. 1944.




p.s The nose landing gear was used only for taxi & towing purposes according to He factory-data.

The Italian Jet Era. Caproni-CampiniNo1 c.1944. Photo via AEC