Heinkel He 100 V8
Heinkel was unhappy that his 112 had lost out to the Messerschmitt Bf 109 in the fighter procurement. So a new design was realised, which was similarly easy to manufacture as the 109, but unfortunately relied on the bullet-sensitive surface cooling. The result was a very elegant aeroplane that was around 65-100 km/h faster than the 109, but the emphasis on aerodynamics was exaggerated. Later, the surface cooling had to be reduced and a retractable belly radiator installed. The chassis was not much more stable than that of the 109, and the cumbersome air intake for the DB 601 did not bring any advantages. The decisive factor, however, could have been the range increase of at least 200 km, for example in the Battle of Britain. This meant that the Bf 109E could stay over London for around 10 minutes, the He 100 for a good 20 minutes longer, a major tactical improvement.
However, the RLM was not interested, especially as the He 100 was designed for the DB 601 and its scarce production had been allocated. After the record attempts, Heinkel ended further activities in disappointment, although he had received indications of interest in using the Jumo 211 as an engine.
The He 100 would have had to be converted for the Junkers engine; the cooling should have been provided solely by a variable belly radiator; the undercarriage had to be reinforced. It would have been feasible with a great deal of effort. Heinkel did not want to.
In the V8 racing machine, the wings were mainly shortened and a highly tuned engine was installed, along with a number of other refinements. Only Hans Dieterle flew this critical variant. In March 1939, it reached 746 km/h on the Baltic coast (50 m altitude). A few months later, the Me 209 reached 755 km/h at an altitude of 500 metres above sea level at Lechfeld/Augsburg in Bavaria. Heinkel calculated that the He 100 V8 would reach 765 km/h at the same altitude and made preparations. The RLM banned the new test and used the 100 for propaganda lies.
If you like, I can show you my He 112 B and He 100 D.
Heinkel was unhappy that his 112 had lost out to the Messerschmitt Bf 109 in the fighter procurement. So a new design was realised, which was similarly easy to manufacture as the 109, but unfortunately relied on the bullet-sensitive surface cooling. The result was a very elegant aeroplane that was around 65-100 km/h faster than the 109, but the emphasis on aerodynamics was exaggerated. Later, the surface cooling had to be reduced and a retractable belly radiator installed. The chassis was not much more stable than that of the 109, and the cumbersome air intake for the DB 601 did not bring any advantages. The decisive factor, however, could have been the range increase of at least 200 km, for example in the Battle of Britain. This meant that the Bf 109E could stay over London for around 10 minutes, the He 100 for a good 20 minutes longer, a major tactical improvement.
However, the RLM was not interested, especially as the He 100 was designed for the DB 601 and its scarce production had been allocated. After the record attempts, Heinkel ended further activities in disappointment, although he had received indications of interest in using the Jumo 211 as an engine.
The He 100 would have had to be converted for the Junkers engine; the cooling should have been provided solely by a variable belly radiator; the undercarriage had to be reinforced. It would have been feasible with a great deal of effort. Heinkel did not want to.
In the V8 racing machine, the wings were mainly shortened and a highly tuned engine was installed, along with a number of other refinements. Only Hans Dieterle flew this critical variant. In March 1939, it reached 746 km/h on the Baltic coast (50 m altitude). A few months later, the Me 209 reached 755 km/h at an altitude of 500 metres above sea level at Lechfeld/Augsburg in Bavaria. Heinkel calculated that the He 100 V8 would reach 765 km/h at the same altitude and made preparations. The RLM banned the new test and used the 100 for propaganda lies.
If you like, I can show you my He 112 B and He 100 D.
