Lippisch P.13a

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The Lippisch P.13a was an experimental ramjet-powered delta wing interceptor aircraft designed in late 1944 by Dr. Alexander Lippisch for Nazi Germany. The aircraft never made it past the drawing board, with testing of wind tunnel models showing the design had extraordinary stability into the Mach 2.6 range. As conventional fuel was in short supply at the end of the war, the ramjet was to be powered by powdered coal. It was the end of the war that prevented further development beyond the unpowered DM-1 test glider. After the war, Lippisch, working with American aircraft designer Convair, developed and tested the XF-92 based on his designs, leading to the eventual adoption of the F-102 Delta Dagger and its successor, the F-106 Delta Dart.

[edit] Specifications (P.13a, as designed)

General characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Length: 6.70 m (22 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 6.00 m (19 ft 9 in)
• Height: 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 20.0 m² (215 ft²)
• Loaded weight: 2,295 kg (5,060 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Kronach Lorin coal-dust burning ramjet

Performance

• Maximum speed: 1650 km/h (1025 mph)
• Range: 621 km (1,000 miles)
• Wing loading: 115 kg/m² (24 lb/ft²)

Armament

• 2 × 30 mm MK 103 cannons

[edit] External links

• Luft 46 Article on the P.13a

[edit] Related content

Related development

Lippisch DM-1

 

Designation sequence

P.10 - P.11 - P.12 - P.13/P.13a/P.13b - P.14 - P.15 - P.20

Related lists

List of military aircraft of Germany - List of World War II military aircraft of Germany