HE162 Salamanda a how did it even work?

[haitch40]

i remember reading somewhere that to save resources in germany's dying years it was largely made of wood now if my science is any good JET+WOOD=FIRE

[RCfalcon]

Yeah, I know the whole point of that project was a jet fighter that could be made relatively easy. They probably had metal or something over the parts that would be directly exposed to the heat from the jet, or something.

I've always wondered how the pilots got out of that thing. Seems like it would be a bitch to bail out of...with the engine right behind the cockpit and all.

*pops off the canopy and starts to climb out* "Im going to make it, Im going to make i---" *gets sucked into the engine*

I think I heard they had some kind of mechanism to jettison the seat away from the plane, but Im not sure. Not like Hitler was ever very concerned about employee safety.

[juz1]

It was destined to be flown by hitler youth...plentiful and expendable
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FORD FOCUS (NORTH AMERICA) HISTORY

[RCfalcon]

Originally Posted by juz1

It was destined to be flown by hitler youth...plentiful and expendable

Thought so. Could have sworn I'd heard it referred to as "The Hitler Youth Fighter" on some show once.

Really, Hitler is to blame for his jet program's lack of impact. He's the one that saw the Me-262 and said "There should be a bomber version". Who sees their country being levelled by massive bomber formations, looks at the most advanced fighter aircraft up to that point and thinks 'Im going to split resources to make a bomber variant when resources are already scarce to begin with' ?

But then again, Hitler's reign is marred by several terrible military decisions. Who invades Russia? Has that ever turned out well for anyone that has tried? lol

[Ancient Seraph]

It only flew for about seven minutes, so it's not like they'd get shot down a lot before the engine quit. Then they had to glide down and land on the ski, since they dropped their landing gear on take-off. Don't think ejecting was their biggest concern .

[RCfalcon]

Originally Posted by Ancient Seraph

It only flew for about seven minutes, so it's not like they'd get shot down a lot before the engine quit. Then they had to glide down and land on the ski, since they dropped their landing gear on take-off. Don't think ejecting was their biggest concern .

I think you're thinking of the Me-163 Komet. The He-162 is the Salamader, that jet with the engine on top. But yeah, with the Komet, they were just hoping they werent one of the 60% that died on takeoff.

[Ancient Seraph]

Originally Posted by RCfalcon

I think you're thinking of the Me-163 Komet. The He-162 is the Salamader, that jet with the engine on top. But yeah, with the Komet, they were just hoping they werent one of the 60% that died on takeoff.

Oops, my bad. All those numbers .

[RCfalcon]

Originally Posted by Ancient Seraph

Oops, my bad. All those numbers .

Yeah, those crazy Germans and their similarly numbered planes. lol

[Dubbedinenglish]

Originally Posted by RCfalcon

Thought so. Could have sworn I'd heard it referred to as "The Hitler Youth Fighter" on some show once.

Really, Hitler is to blame for his jet program's lack of impact. He's the one that saw the Me-262 and said "There should be a bomber version". Who sees their country being levelled by massive bomber formations, looks at the most advanced fighter aircraft up to that point and thinks 'Im going to split resources to make a bomber variant when resources are already scarce to begin with' ?

But then again, Hitler's reign is marred by several terrible military decisions. Who invades Russia? Has that ever turned out well for anyone that has tried? lol

The Russian invasion would've worked out better if he went with Operation Sea Lion beforehand.

[MorgothNL]

Originally Posted by RCfalcon

Yeah, those crazy Germans and their similarly numbered planes. lol

Yeah, the americans are way better at that . P-40, P-47, P51, P-38 etc . Why cant they just give them cool names ? Just call them jug, mustang, lightning.. get rid of those lame numbers. Thats so old fashioned