Heinkel He 178

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Heinkel He 178

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Description

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RoleExperimental prototype

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Crewone, pilot

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Dimensions

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Length7.48 m24 ft 6 in

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Wingspan7.20 m23 ft 3 in

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Height2.10 m6 ft 10 in

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Wing area9.1 m²98 ft²

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Weights

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Empty1,620 kg3,572 lb

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Loaded1,998 kg 4,405 lb

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Maximum take-off

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Powerplant

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EngineHeS.3B turbojet

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Poweras first flown4.4 kN992 lb

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Performance

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Maximum speed700 km/h435 mph

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Rangetheoretical200 km125 miles

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Enduranceattained8 minutes

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Ceilingtheoretical

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Rate of Climb

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The Heinkel He 178 was the world's first aircraft to fly under turbojet power, and the first practical jet plane. It was a private venture by the Heinkel company in accordance with director Ernst Heinkel's emphasis on developing technology for high-speed flight and first flew on August 27 1939 piloted by Erich Warsitz. This had been preceded by a short hop three days earlier.

Related Topics:
Heinkel - Aircraft - Turbojet - Ernst Heinkel - August 27 - 1939 - Erich Warsitz

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In 1936, a young engineer named Hans von Ohain had taken out a patent on using the exhaust from a gas turbine as a means of propulsion. He presented his idea to Heinkel, who agreed to help develop the concept. Von Ohain successfully demonstrated his first engine in 1937, and plans were quickly put in place to test a similar engine in an aircraft. The He 178 was designed around von Ohain's third engine design, which burned diesel fuel. The result was a small aircraft of conventional configuration and construction, with a metal fuselage and high-mounted wooden wings. The jet intake was in the nose, and the plane was fitted with taildragger-style undercarriage. On the first flight, the main gear was fixed, but was later made retractable.

Related Topics:
1936 - Hans von Ohain - Patent - Gas turbine - 1937 - Diesel - Taildragger - Undercarriage

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The aircraft was an outstanding success — although just a flying testbed, it was only slightly slower than the fastest piston engined aircraft of the day. On November 1 1939, Heinkel arranged a demonstration of the jet for the Reichsluftfahrtministerium ("Reich Aviation Ministry", RLM), where both Ernst Udet and Erhard Milch watched the aircraft perform. However, due to the conservative approach to aircraft design then favoured by both men, no official interest in the concept was shown. Nevertheless, Heinkel was undeterred, and decided to embark on the development of a jet fighter, the Heinkel He 280 as a private venture using what had been learned from the He 178.

Related Topics:
Piston engine - November 1 - 1939 - Reichsluftfahrtministerium - Ernst Udet - Erhard Milch - Heinkel He 280

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The He 178 was placed in the Deutsches Technikmuseum ("German Technical Museum") in Berlin, where it was destroyed in an air raid in 1943.

Related Topics:
Deutsches Technikmuseum - Berlin - Air raid

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