Rob Arndt
2011-02-08 18:54:27 UTC
Loading Image...
Do-217P:
In September 1941 the design of the P 183 and Do-217 began, and
eventually led to the Do-217P high-altitude bomber. In place of the
highly sophisticated engines, Dornier, like Henschel, settled for a
conventional engine layout consisting of two DB 603S-0 engines and one
DB 605T as power for the central compressor which provided the twp DB
603s with pre-cooled, pre-pressurized inlet air. The first static
tests of these centrally supercharged (HZ) engines began in Stuttgart
in October 1941. From 1942 the fuselage of a Do-217E-2 was used for a
variety of engine tests. A converted aircraft of the same type with
increased wing are (67m squared) was used for vibration and load tests
for the proposed Do-217P series.
From the Do-217E-2 (BK+JR, Wnr 1229), came the first of the initial
three test aircraft of the high-altitude Do-217P. On 6 June 1942 the
Do-217P V1 made its first flight. In mid-August, after a few test
flights reaching an altitude of 11,300m, Dornier fitted wings of
increased area. By 2 April 1943 twenty-three test flights totaling 34
flying hours had taken place, and altitude of 13,000m having been
exceeded on three occasions. The maximum altitude reached was 13,650m.
From the end of August, flights were carried out using the central
supercharger. Up to this time tests had been severely disrupted
because of strong vibrations in the turbocharger and problems with the
propellers. In the meantime, the RLM decided to build a further three
test aircraft, because testing of the Hs-130 had been subject to
severe delays. After various flights with Daimler-Benz engines, which
gave only a small Increase in high-altitude performance, the Do-217P
V1 went to Friedrichshafen in April to have its wing area increased to
71.0m squared. The Do-217P V2 with the earlier air-coolers became
available with Daimler-Benz engines from September 1942. In March 1943
comparative test flights took place, using the V2 with the old cooler
and V3 with the new one.
The Do-217P V2 was lost as a result of an air raid at Cazaux, where it
had been sent for bombing trials. The V4 reached a maximum altitude of
15,200m where it could still climb at 0.25m/s before the test was
ended when stability became too great a problem. The Do-217P V5 and V6
were respectively 95 and 80 percent complete by 1943, but were
scrapped on 11 March 1944. By the end of 1943 the whole high-altitude
program, including turbocharger development, was discontinued because
of the war situation. Work on central turbo charging was stopped in
1944 in favor of the DB 627 design. The Do-217P V1 and V2 were lost
owing to enemy action, together with the Hs-130E-0 on 5 September
1944.
~ “Bombers of the Luftwaffe“, pgs 164-165
Data from “Hitler’s Luftwaffe” pg.148:
Type: Recon and High-Altitude Bomber
Engines: 2x 1860 hp DB 603B supercharged by DB 605T in fuselage
Span: 80’ 4”
Length: 58’ 11”
Height: 16’ 5”
Weight: 35,200 lb
Max Speed: 488 mph
Ceiling: 53,000 ft
Range: 1300 miles
Armament: (bomber version) 3x MG-81Z and 2x 1102 lb bombs on underwing
racks
Rob
Do-217P:
In September 1941 the design of the P 183 and Do-217 began, and
eventually led to the Do-217P high-altitude bomber. In place of the
highly sophisticated engines, Dornier, like Henschel, settled for a
conventional engine layout consisting of two DB 603S-0 engines and one
DB 605T as power for the central compressor which provided the twp DB
603s with pre-cooled, pre-pressurized inlet air. The first static
tests of these centrally supercharged (HZ) engines began in Stuttgart
in October 1941. From 1942 the fuselage of a Do-217E-2 was used for a
variety of engine tests. A converted aircraft of the same type with
increased wing are (67m squared) was used for vibration and load tests
for the proposed Do-217P series.
From the Do-217E-2 (BK+JR, Wnr 1229), came the first of the initial
three test aircraft of the high-altitude Do-217P. On 6 June 1942 the
Do-217P V1 made its first flight. In mid-August, after a few test
flights reaching an altitude of 11,300m, Dornier fitted wings of
increased area. By 2 April 1943 twenty-three test flights totaling 34
flying hours had taken place, and altitude of 13,000m having been
exceeded on three occasions. The maximum altitude reached was 13,650m.
From the end of August, flights were carried out using the central
supercharger. Up to this time tests had been severely disrupted
because of strong vibrations in the turbocharger and problems with the
propellers. In the meantime, the RLM decided to build a further three
test aircraft, because testing of the Hs-130 had been subject to
severe delays. After various flights with Daimler-Benz engines, which
gave only a small Increase in high-altitude performance, the Do-217P
V1 went to Friedrichshafen in April to have its wing area increased to
71.0m squared. The Do-217P V2 with the earlier air-coolers became
available with Daimler-Benz engines from September 1942. In March 1943
comparative test flights took place, using the V2 with the old cooler
and V3 with the new one.
The Do-217P V2 was lost as a result of an air raid at Cazaux, where it
had been sent for bombing trials. The V4 reached a maximum altitude of
15,200m where it could still climb at 0.25m/s before the test was
ended when stability became too great a problem. The Do-217P V5 and V6
were respectively 95 and 80 percent complete by 1943, but were
scrapped on 11 March 1944. By the end of 1943 the whole high-altitude
program, including turbocharger development, was discontinued because
of the war situation. Work on central turbo charging was stopped in
1944 in favor of the DB 627 design. The Do-217P V1 and V2 were lost
owing to enemy action, together with the Hs-130E-0 on 5 September
1944.
~ “Bombers of the Luftwaffe“, pgs 164-165
Data from “Hitler’s Luftwaffe” pg.148:
Type: Recon and High-Altitude Bomber
Engines: 2x 1860 hp DB 603B supercharged by DB 605T in fuselage
Span: 80’ 4”
Length: 58’ 11”
Height: 16’ 5”
Weight: 35,200 lb
Max Speed: 488 mph
Ceiling: 53,000 ft
Range: 1300 miles
Armament: (bomber version) 3x MG-81Z and 2x 1102 lb bombs on underwing
racks
Rob