AHC: the Volksjaeger for 1943 and on

:)
Related to the topic, the excellent 'Jetfire' by Dizzyfugu.
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The ficticious “Jetfire” parallels OTL Soviet efforts.
Starting in April 1944, Soviets tried mounting Junkers Jumo 004 net engines on in-service Yak 3 fighters.
By installing the jet engines lower than original piston engines, they routed jet exhaust UNDER the wing. This limited heat damage to the belly and tail wheel.
Less than 300 Yak 15 “Feathers” were built and they were mainly used as transition trainers for qualified prop pilots learning how to fly jets.
 
You also have to consider if the Germans have a successful jet fighter in 1943 the Allies are going to speed up their jet research and the advantage won't last that long.
 
A report on Heinkel jet engines development: here.

You also have to consider if the Germans have a successful jet fighter in 1943 the Allies are going to speed up their jet research and the advantage won't last that long.

Germany lost the chance to win the war in already in 1941.
With that said, jet fighters were notoriously short-legged until well into 1950s. In a scenario where WAllies that have jets in 1944, it will stil require piston-engined fighters to escort bombers beyond Belgium - not a very good proposal vs. 500+ mph opposition? Soviets will still be using 99% of piston engined fighters in 1944.
 
Jet engines have several advantages vs. piston-engined A/C, apart from ability to propel aircraft easily above 450-500 mph. No need for a propeller, no reduction gearing, no need for elaborate cooling and intercooler arangements. No 'power boosters', like ADI or GM1. All of this affords for a light and straightforward installation of the engine. It also allows for a simple operation of engine. In words of John Grierson, from Wikipedia:

"The main impressions of my first jet-propelled flight were first of the simplicity of operation. The throttle was the only engine control; there were no mixture or propeller levers, supercharger or cooling-gill controls and the fuel system had simply one low-pressure valve between the tank and the engine pump, and one high-pressure valve between the pump and the engine. There was no electric booster pump. Secondly the absence of vibration or the sensation of effort being transmitted to the pilot's seat was outstanding."

Add in no torque to fight against at low speeds, the simplicity alone would've made it much easier for the novice pilots to master flying of a jet aircraft. From German point of wiev, ability of the jet engine to use diesel fuel is very interesting, too. Diesel fuel is also much less flamable than hi-oct gasoline.
Armament installation is also easier since there is no prop turning at the nose.

Granted, not everyting was rosy - fuel consumption is/was very high, so logistical efforts need to doubled vs. piston-engined fighters of the LW; throttle needs to be judicuously applied so engine does not shut down, wings need to be well outfitted with high-lift devices to help with take-off.
 
While the early Jets lacked a good MTBF, they were easier to build than a high HP reciprocating engine.So parachute out, and let some other team collect the debris for recycling. It's over friendly territory, after all. Thetrained meat sack is more valuable than the airframe or engine.

Looks like the Bachem Natter to me....
 
A report on Heinkel jet engines development: here.



Germany lost the chance to win the war in already in 1941.
With that said, jet fighters were notoriously short-legged until well into 1950s. In a scenario where WAllies that have jets in 1944, it will stil require piston-engined fighters to escort bombers beyond Belgium - not a very good proposal vs. 500+ mph opposition? Soviets will still be using 99% of piston engined fighters in 1944.

Where did you get this nonsense? US fighter production was higher not lower than the Soviet and with better planes as well. http://worldwar2-database.blogspot.com/2010/10/military-production-world-war-ii.html
 
PS, if we skip the Jet engine requirement, there was already one suchspuch actually in Luftwaffe service in 1943. It was the early Focke-Wulf Fw190.
 

SwampTiger

Banned
I wonder if a push to produce the HeS3b/HeS6b would advance German jet development of low/medium bypass fans to improve fuel economy and power. The HeS 10 proposal was for such a jet engine based on the HeS 8.

Also, I was incorrect on blaming Wagner, it was Adolph Mueller who dragged out the move from Junkers of the HeS 30 project.
 
Where did you get this nonsense?

I would advise against harsh language.

US fighter production was higher not lower than the Soviet and with better planes as well. http://worldwar2-database.blogspot.com/2010/10/military-production-world-war-ii.html

Let me reformulate.
Of all fighters Soviets might use in 1944 against Germany, after they learn of German jets, 1% migth be jets of any kind we can imagine, 99% will stil be piston-engined fighters (ie. Yak family and La family). WAllies percentage, jets vs. piston-engined, is bound to change, obviously incorporating much more jets than Soviets will.

PS, if we skip the Jet engine requirement, there was already one suchspuch actually in Luftwaffe service in 1943. It was the early Focke-Wulf Fw190.

Fw 190 was an excellent fighter, yet it was no better than Spitfire VII/VIII/IX/XII, and worse above 20000 ft than P-47. Typhoon also managed to hold it's own well vs. the 190.
 
The Salamander had a number of issues. The glues used to hold the airframe together were corrosive, so early examples had a bad habit of coming apart. The bigger issue is that despite the intention to create a fighter that could be flown by pilots with minimal training, but in practice it was a plane that needed a highly skilled pilot. Add to that the early jets were very vulnerable at takeoff and landing. By 1943 the Luftwaffe was looking to standardize its fighter production to maximize numbers, which was why a number of designs that were potentially better than the Bf109 didn't displace it.

Oh and if you want a radical piston engine option don't forget the Do335 'Pfeil'.
 
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