Blohm & Voss BV 40

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The Blohm & Voss BV 40 was a German glider fighter designed to attack Allied bomber formations.

Its key features were a very narrow (and thus hard to hit) cross section as result of being a glider, a fairly heavily armored cockpit, and two MK 108 cannons with very limited ammunition. The body was constructed almost entirely of wood, a non-strategic material. During its short attack time the glider would fire its weapon, then glide back to earth, although for a time, the idea of carrying a bomb on a cable behind the glider was entertained. The first flight was in the May of 1944. Several prototypes were completed but the project was stopped later in the year as the end of the war drew near.

[edit] Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 man
• Length: 5.70 m (18.7 ft)
• Wingspan: 7.90 m (25.9 ft)
• Height: 1.63 m (5.34 ft)
• Wing area: 8.70 m² ()
• Empty weight: 835 kg max. (1,840.9 lb)
• Loaded weight: 950 kg (2,094.4 lb)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 900 km/h in descending flight (560 mph)
• Cruise speed: 555 km/h towed (6,000 m height) (345 mph)

Armament

Two 30 mm Rheinmetall Borsig MK 108 cannons (35 rounds per gun = 70 rounds total)

[edit] See also

• Blohm + Voss
• Blohm & Voss BV 246