The German designers and companies produced many a good airplanes, not only in ww2. What design 'buro', or what aircraft-producing company is your favorite, based on their ww2 designs? Mass produced airplanes should be the guidance, also the prototypes, but not paper projects.
Your favourite German designers/company?
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GregP
Major
I'm a big fan of Ernst Heinkel. He produced a host of designs to specifications that were sometimes at odds with one another and also had what I consider to be the first jet fighter in the He 280. He wasn't popular with the German high command, but came up with many innovative aircraft that performed well, were robust and could easily have been better choices for production. The Bf 109 was a great plane, to be sure, but the He 112 and He 100 could just as easily have been the mainstays of the Luftwaffe had Ernst not been somewhat unpopular with certain officials.
They flew a lot of Hienkels despite that and he proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that his planes were an excellent value for the Reich.
While I'm not a fan of the He 177, the He 277 could easily have been a game changer and would have been the only strategic bomber Germany had, seeing as how they also didn't build the Me 264 in any of its versions except for prototypes.
They flew a lot of Hienkels despite that and he proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that his planes were an excellent value for the Reich.
While I'm not a fan of the He 177, the He 277 could easily have been a game changer and would have been the only strategic bomber Germany had, seeing as how they also didn't build the Me 264 in any of its versions except for prototypes.
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davebender
1st Lieutenant
Luftwaffe would have been in serious trouble without DB601/DB605 engine.
Schnellboot and other small vessels were powered by MB501 diesel engines.
Daimler-Benz produced quite a few motor vehicles for Heer plus components for other manufacturers such as armored vehicle turrets.
Schnellboot and other small vessels were powered by MB501 diesel engines.
Daimler-Benz produced quite a few motor vehicles for Heer plus components for other manufacturers such as armored vehicle turrets.
As the OP's question is favourite rather than best or most effective for me it has to be Messerchsmitt.The appeal of Messerchmitt to me is not the BF 109,262, 110 but rather the 232 and 163. One quitley effective unsung transport hero and one totally over the top, balls out daft interceptor.
Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
Flettner
ok, maybe not. But Willi does it for me for all the reasons Beitou offered.
ok, maybe not. But Willi does it for me for all the reasons Beitou offered.
michaelmaltby
Colonel
Kurt Tank
The He 177 was a strategic bomber as well. Later variants of the 177 started to overcome the problem of the coupled engines. The design had great potential.
davebender
1st Lieutenant
One of my favorites. If RLM had fully supported his efforts rather then feeding him crumbs WWII Germany might have employed thousands of helicopters rather then a few dozen.
Anton Flettner was part of WWI German wire guided weapons program. Another area he might have contributed during 1930s if RLM had given him a design contract.
It's not surprising U.S. Government smoothed his path to move to USA during 1945.
Anton Flettner was part of WWI German wire guided weapons program. Another area he might have contributed during 1930s if RLM had given him a design contract.
It's not surprising U.S. Government smoothed his path to move to USA during 1945.
meatloaf109
1st Lieutenant
Hugo was an early innovator, Ernst was one too, but Willy delivered the goods.
Messerschmitt. When it absolutely, positively has to be shot down today.
Messerschmitt. When it absolutely, positively has to be shot down today.
davebender
1st Lieutenant
No doubt about it, Me-109 delivered results.
Well since this is about favorite and not necessarily best, I have to go with Messerschmitt. They designed my favorite aircraft of all time the Bf 109.
GregP
Major
I thought this thread was favorite designer / company. For favorite WWII aircraft, mine is a close match between the Bf 109 and the A6M5 Zero ... hard to pick, at least for me. Right behind those two is either a Macchi 202/205 or a Reggiane Re.2005 ... again, tough to choose.
I suppose that is because I grew up around American warbirds and the others are more ... "exotic." In the case of the Macchi and Reggiane (even a Fiat G.55/56), I've never even seen one in person. Despite being a volunteer at the Planes of Fame, it's still a thrill to see the Zero fly since it doesn't fly very often and is the only one left flying on the original enginer and propeller.
I suppose if I ever saw a flying Mosquito, it might move well up in the rankings, too. These days there is only one, and it isn't close enough to go see easily.
I suppose that is because I grew up around American warbirds and the others are more ... "exotic." In the case of the Macchi and Reggiane (even a Fiat G.55/56), I've never even seen one in person. Despite being a volunteer at the Planes of Fame, it's still a thrill to see the Zero fly since it doesn't fly very often and is the only one left flying on the original enginer and propeller.
I suppose if I ever saw a flying Mosquito, it might move well up in the rankings, too. These days there is only one, and it isn't close enough to go see easily.
N4521U
Colonel
Krupp, from Cannons to Coffee makers! how diversified is that?
It is...
johnbr
2nd Lieutenant
For me it is Heinkel and Blohm +Voss.
A4K
Colonel
How about Junkers Bill? Flying boats to water boilers
No favourite company or designer here, there were some great designs by all. Do especially love Kurt Tank's Fw 190D- family and the Horten Brothers Ho VI and IX V3 though, not to mention Ernst Heinkel's beautiful He 219...
airminded88
Airman 1st Class
Many companies, many superb designs.
Guess I'll stick with Focke-Wulf for the Anton.
Guess I'll stick with Focke-Wulf for the Anton.
Chunk
Airman
The designers working at the Deutsche Forshungsinstitut fur Segelflug (DFS) at Darmstadt in the 1930s. Georgii,Lippisch,Madelung etc. Also the men who flew the results like Riedel,Groenhoff and Kronfeld.Other German aerodynamicists contributed too,Prandlt,von Karman,Millikan et alter. Germany had a serious lead in this field in the 1930s.
Without their work WW2 aircraft would have been very different.
NACA had been publishing their results in the US,often as technical memoranda,from 1934. Many British designers,notably Shenstone (of Spitfire fame) GTR Hill,BM Jones,GM Buxton,were heavily influenced by their work.
Shenstone,in his diary,raises the possibility of Lippisch,after delivering a lecture to the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1938,working for Supermarine. Now that would have been interesting!
Cheers
Steve
Without their work WW2 aircraft would have been very different.
NACA had been publishing their results in the US,often as technical memoranda,from 1934. Many British designers,notably Shenstone (of Spitfire fame) GTR Hill,BM Jones,GM Buxton,were heavily influenced by their work.
Shenstone,in his diary,raises the possibility of Lippisch,after delivering a lecture to the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1938,working for Supermarine. Now that would have been interesting!
Cheers
Steve
