Blohm & Voss BV 141

Last updated
BV 141
Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1980-117-01, Aufklarungsflugzeug Blohm - Voss BV 141.jpg
BV 141B featuring its asymmetrical gondola and tailplane
General information
Type Reconnaissance, light bomber [1]
Manufacturer Blohm & Voss
Designer
Primary user Luftwaffe
Number built~28 [2]
History
First flight25 February 1938 [1]

The Blohm & Voss BV 141 (originally the Ha 141) [3] was a World War II German tactical reconnaissance aircraft, notable for its uncommon structural asymmetry. Although the Blohm & Voss BV 141 performed well, it was never ordered into full-scale production, for reasons that included the unavailability of the preferred engine and competition from another tactical reconnaissance aircraft, the Focke-Wulf Fw 189.

Contents

Development

In 1937, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM/German Aviation Ministry) – issued a specification for a single-engine reconnaissance aircraft with optimal visual characteristics. The preferred contractor was Arado with the Ar 198, but the prototype proved unsuccessful. [1] The eventual winner was the Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu; even though its twin-boom design using two smaller engines did not match the requirement of a single engined aircraft. Blohm & Voss (Hamburger Flugzeugbau) although not invited to participate, pursued as a private venture something far more radical. [1] The proposal of chief designer Dr. Richard Vogt was the uniquely asymmetric BV 141.

Design

The Plexiglas-glazed crew gondola on the starboard side strongly resembled that found on the Fw 189, and housed the pilot, observer and rear gunner, while the fuselage on the port side led smoothly from the BMW 132N [1] [a] radial engine to a tail unit.

At first glance, the placement of weight would have induced tendency to roll, but the weight was evenly supported by lift from the wings.

In terms of thrust vs drag asymmetry, the countering of induced yaw was a more complicated matter. At low airspeed, it was calculated to be mostly alleviated because of a phenomenon known as P-factor, while at normal airspeed it proved to be easily controlled with trimming.

The tailplane was symmetrical at first, but in the 141B it became asymmetrical – starboard tailplane virtually removed – to improve the rear gunner's fields of view and fire. [1]

Operational history

Assembly of BV 141B Bundesarchiv bild 101I-602-B1227-08A, Aufklarungsflugzeuge Blohm - Voss BV 141.jpg
Assembly of BV 141B

The first prototype, the BV 141 V1 (D-ORJE) first flew on 25 February 1938, using an 865hp BMW 132N engine. [3] Three prototypes and an evaluation batch of five BV 141As were produced, backed personally by Ernst Udet, but the RLM decided on 4 April 1940 that they were underpowered, although it was also noted they otherwise exceeded the requirements. By the time a batch of 12 BV 141Bs were built with the more powerful BMW 801 engine, they were too late to make an impression, as the RLM had already decided to put the Fw 189 into production.

An urgent need for BMW 801 engines for use in the Fw 190 fighter aircraft reduced the chance of the BV 141B being produced in quantity. [1] The BV141 was never operational, though the B-02 (V-10) was evaluated in Autumn 1941 by Aufklärungsschule 1 (Reconnaissance school). [4] Vogt came up with several other asymmetric designs, including the piston-jet P.194.01, but none of those were actually built. [1] Several wrecked BV 141s were found by advancing Allied forces. One was captured by British forces and sent to England for examination. No examples survive today.

Variants

BV 141B Bundesarchiv Bild 183-2005-0725-526, Aufklarungsflugzeug Blohm - Voss BV 141.jpg
BV 141B

All 20 of the BV 141Bs that were ordered were produced and delivered. [2] There exists a complete record of BV 141 production with either a German civil registration number or pre-military, four letter Stammkennzeichen factory radio code number. [2]

Prototypes

Pre-series BV 141A-0

BV 141A-01
(V4); WNr 01010360; D-OLLE; damaged [1]
BV 141A-02
(V5); WNr 01010361; BL+AB
BV 141A-03
(V6); WNr 01010362; BL+AC
BV 141A-04
(V7); WNr 01010363; BL+AD
BV 141A-05
(V8); WNr 01010364; BL+AE

Pre-series BV 141B-0

The first to have BMW 801 engine. About 2 m longer and 2 m wider than A-05. [1]

Series BV 141B-1

Specifications (BV 141B-02 [V10])

BV 141B Blohm und Voss BV 141 B 3-view.svg
BV 141B

Data from[ citation needed ]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor</span> German prop-driven aircraft built 1937–1944

The Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, also known as Kurier to the Allies, is an all-metal four-engined monoplane designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Focke-Wulf. It was the first heavier-than-air craft to fly nonstop between Berlin and New York City, about 4,000 miles (6,400 km), making the flight from Berlin-Staaken to Floyd Bennett Field on 10/11 August 1938 in 24 hours and 56 minutes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henschel Hs 129</span> German twin engine WWII ground attack aircraft

The Henschel Hs 129 was a ground-attack aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Henschel Flugzeugwerke AG. Fielded by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War, it saw combat in Tunisia and on the Eastern Front.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blohm & Voss BV 155</span> German high-altitude prototype interceptor aircraft

The Blohm & Voss BV 155 is a German high-altitude interceptor aircraft intended to be used by the Luftwaffe against raids by USAAF Boeing B-29 Superfortresses. Work started on the design as the Messerschmitt Me 155 in 1942, but the project went through a protracted development period and change of ownership, and prototypes were still under test and development when World War II ended.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW 801</span> German aircraft engine developed by BMW during World War II

The BMW 801 was a powerful German 41.8-litre (2,550 cu in) air-cooled 14-cylinder-radial aircraft engine built by BMW and used in a number of German Luftwaffe aircraft of World War II. Production versions of the twin-row engine generated between 1,560 and 2,000 PS. It was the most produced radial engine of Germany in World War II with more than 61,000 built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu</span> 1938 reconnaissance aircraft family by Focke-Wulf

The Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu (Owl) is a twin-engine twin-boom tactical reconnaissance and army cooperation aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Focke-Wulf. It was one of the Luftwaffe's most prominent short range reconnaissance aircraft during the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blohm & Voss BV 138 Seedrache</span> 1937 flying boat family by Blohm & Voss

The Blohm & Voss BV 138Seedrache was a trimotor flying boat designed and built by the German aircraft manufacturer Blohm & Voss. It served as the Luftwaffe's primary seaborne long-range maritime patrol and naval reconnaissance aircraft operated by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Focke-Wulf Ta 152</span> Late-WWII German high-altitude fighter-interceptor aircraft

The Focke-Wulf Ta 152 is a German high-altitude fighter–interceptor designed by Kurt Tank and produced by Focke-Wulf. It entered production too late and in insufficient numbers to have a significant role in the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Focke-Wulf Fw 191</span> Prototype bomber

The Focke-Wulf Fw 191 was a prototype German bomber of World War II, as the Focke-Wulf firm's entry for the Bomber B advanced medium bomber design competition. Two versions were intended to be produced, a twin-engine version using the Junkers Jumo 222 engine and a four-engine variant which was to have used the smaller Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine. The project was eventually abandoned due to technical difficulties with the engines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bramo 323</span> 1930s German 9-cylinder Radial Aircraft Engine

The Bramo 323 Fafnir is a nine-cylinder radial aircraft engine of the World War II era. Based heavily on Siemens/Bramo's earlier experience producing the Bristol Jupiter under licence, the Bramo 323 saw limited use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW 803</span> German aircraft engine

The BMW 803 was a German aircraft engine, an attempt by BMW to build a high-output aircraft engine by coupling two BMW 801 engines back-to-back, driving contra-rotating propellers. The result was a 28-cylinder, four-row radial engine, each comprising a multiple-bank in-line engine with two cylinders in each bank, which, due to cooling concerns, were liquid cooled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW 132</span>

The BMW 132 was a nine-cylinder radial aircraft engine produced by BMW starting in 1933.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Focke-Wulf Fw 42</span> Medium bomber project, Germany, cancelled c.1934

The Focke-Wulf Fw 42 was a design for a twin-engined medium bomber, of canard configuration, that was designed by Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG in Germany in the early 1930s. Several air forces expressed interest in the aircraft. However, despite its advanced design being proven sound in wind tunnel testing, the Fw 42 failed to win a contract for development, and no examples of the type were ever built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Focke-Wulf Fw 62</span> Type of aircraft

The Focke-Wulf Fw 62 was a reconnaissance floatplane, designed and built by Focke-Wulf for use by Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. Only four were built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arado Ar 198</span> Prototype reconnaissance aircraft by Arado

The Arado Ar 198 was a prototype reconnaissance aircraft, developed by Arado Flugzeugwerke, with backing from the Luftwaffe, who initially preferred it over the Blohm & Voss BV 141 and the Focke-Wulf Fw 189. However, when flight tests were carried out the aircraft performed poorly and did not impress the Luftwaffe. One aircraft was completed in 1938.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Focke-Wulf Volksjäger</span> Type of aircraft

The Focke-Wulf Volksjäger, was a German emergency fighter project for the Luftwaffe. It was designed by Focke-Wulf towards the end of World War II as part of the defense effort against the devastating Allied bombing raids.

The Focke-Wulf Nr. 238 Fernkampfflugzeug was a four-engine strategic bomber developed by the German aeronautical company Focke-Wulf-Flugzeugbau AG in the early 1940s and remained at the project stage. Designed to the same specifications issued by the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) which led to the Focke-Wulf Ta 400 and Junkers Ju 390, its development was cancelled by the RLM.

References

Notes

  1. The first prototypes used 1,000 PS (986 hp, 736 kW) Bramo 323 radial engine.

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rys 2004 , pp. 55–60.
  2. 1 2 3 Files of the Hamburger-Werke.[ citation needed ]
  3. 1 2 Munson 1978, p. 31.
  4. Munson 1978, p. 32.
  5. 1 2 Kambeck, Lars. Jet & Prop Magazine.[ citation needed ]

Bibliography

Further reading