Fw-190 Prototype engine changes

[alejandro_]

The BMW-801 had an average service lifetime of 25 hours during 1941 and most of 1942 when the Fw-190A was deployed in the west. It was not operationally reliable by then (sic), as considered by the BMW-company and the RLM. That was the prime reason why the Fw-190 was only deployed in logistically and infrastructurally well developed areas and not on remote theatres of action by 1942. BMW was forced to derate the BMW-801D to 1.3ata in order to make it "operationally reliable" by late 1942 and this strongly points to problems with this engine until 1943.

Delycros, do you have a source for these data? its very interesting.

Regarding change from BMW139 to BMW801. The later offered -as stated in the discussion- 50HP extra, which later raised to 200HP. It also had less cooling issues and was more reliable. It included the use of a kommandogerat to simplify the pilot input.

Some information can be found in Alfred Price book, Fw-190 in combat, page 8. However, its not very clear if the change was requested by RLM, or just the iniciative of Focke-Wulf.

 

[davebender]

Regarding change from BMW139 to BMW801. The later offered -as stated in the discussion- 50HP extra, which later raised to 200HP. It also had less cooling issues and was more reliable. It included the use of a kommandogerat to simplify the pilot input.

What would the BMW139 engine look like if development continued until 1942? There would almost certainly be some improvements.

 

[Burmese Bandit]

I still haven't seen any engine price comparisions!

Can someone give us the price/year of the DB series, the Jumo series, and the BMW 801???

 

[davebender]

price data for 1941 for some German aircraft types, via Olaf Groehlers GdLK, 1910-1980:
Without engine / with engine, in Reichsmarks (RM)

Bf 109E : 58 000 / 85 970
.....27,970 RM for the DB601 engine.

Bf 110C : 155 800 / 210 140
.....54,340 RM for 2 x DB601 engines. 27,170 RM per engine.

He 111H : 203 900 / 265 650
.....61,750 for 2 x Jumo 211 engines. 30,875 per engine.

Ju 88A : 245 200 / 306 950
.....61,750 for 2 x Jumo 211 engines. 30,875 per engine.

Ju 87B : 100 300 / 131 175
.....30,875 for 1 x Jumo 211 engine.

Ju 52 : 125 800 / 163 000
.....37,200 for 3 x BMW132 engines. 12,400 per engine.

I have read somwhere (no longer have the source) that a BMW801 engine cost 45,000 to 65,000 RM during 1942.