| Fi 166 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Vertical-launched jet fighter |
| Manufacturer | Fieseler |
| Designer | Erich Bachem |
| Status | Project only |
| Number built | None |
In the early 1940s, Erich Bachem, Fieseler's Aircraft's technical manager, developed two designs for a rocket-launched fighter that could reach high altitudes quicker than conventional fighters.[1]
Design one involved a straight-winged jet fighter powered by two Jumo 004 jet engines. It would be launched upright by liquid-fuel rockets. After attaining an altitude of 3660 meters, the rocket would burn out, disconnect and return to earth via parachute for re-use. The fighter would then engage Allied bombers before landing as a conventional airplane.[2]
| Category | Known Data |
|---|---|
| Maximum speed | 800 km/h |
| Takeoff weight | 5 metric ton |
| Flying time | 45 minutes |