Gotha Go 244

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Gotha Go 244 was a transport aircraft used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 3.1 Go 244A 3.2 Go 244B 4 Specifications (Go 244B-2) 4.1 General characteristics 4.2 Performance 4.3 Armament 5 Related content

[edit] Development

The Go 244 was the powered version of the Gotha Go 242. After the fall of France, the German army came across large stockpiles of the Gnome-Rhone 14M radial engines. It was decided to use these engines to modify Go 242 gliders, the modification also added a tricycle undercarriage. They hoped that by doing this they would be able to increase the performance as well as operational versatility. But the engines proved to be underpowered. After the invasion of Russia in June 1941, the Germans captured large stockpiles of the Shvetsov M-25A radial engines. But they proved to be just as underpowered as the French engines. The A series of the Go 244 were prototypes and some were powered by BMW 132 radial engines. The B series was the main production model. 43 were built as full production models and 133 were converted from Go 242B.

[edit] Operational history

The first production units enter Luftwaffe service in May 1942. It came in several variants and was well armed for a powered glider. This model was used almost exclusively on the Eastern Front.

[edit] Variants

[edit] Go 244A

• Go 244A-1 - prototype, used the BMW 132 radial engine

[edit] Go 244B

• Go 244B-1 - production version, with fixed landing gear
• Go 244B-2 - B-1 with improved landing gear including a larger semi-retractable nose wheel
• Go 242B-3 - paratroop-carrying version of B-1 with double rear doors
• Go 244B-4 - paratroop-carrying version of B-2 with doors of B-3 and landing gear of B-2
• Go 244B-5 - training version with dual controls

[edit] Specifications (Go 244B-2)

[edit] General characteristics

• Type: medium transport
• Crew: one or two pilots
• Capacity: up to 23 troops or freight
• Length: 15.80 m (51 ft 10.08 in)
• Wingspan: 24.50 m (80 ft 5 in)
• Height: 4.60 m (15 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 64.4 m² (693 ft²)
• Aspect ratio: 16:1
• Empty: 5,225 kg (11,517 lb)
• Loaded: kg ( lb)
• Maximum takeoff: 7,800 kg (17,196 lb)

[edit] Performance

• Maximum speed: 290 km/h (180 mph)
• Cruising speed: max 270 km/h (168 mph) at 3,900 m (12,795 ft)
• Climb: to 5,000 m/min (16,405 ft/min) in 18 min 30 sec
• Service ceiling: 7,650 m (25,100 ft); typical range 740 km (460 miles)

[edit] Armament

• 4x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine guns

[edit] Related content

Related development: Go 242

Comparable aircraft: Fairchild C 82 packet

Designation sequence: Ar 239 - Ar 240 - Go 241 - Go 242 - Go 244 - BV 246 - Ju 248