Alexander Lippisch
Lippisch P.13a
The Lippisch P.13a was a German experimental rocket‑propelled interceptor conceived in the final months of World War II. Designed by the renowned aeronautical engineer Alexander Lippisch, the aircraft was intended to counter Allied bomber formations with unprecedented speed and climb rate. Its layout followed Lippisch’s characteristic tailless, delta‑wing concept, but the P.13a combined a sleek, low‑profile fuselage with a centrally mounted Walter HWK 109‑509 rocket motor that expelled thrust through a rear‑facing nozzle. The design eliminated conventional landing gear; the aircraft was to take off using a detachable wheeled dolly and land on a skid, reducing weight and drag. Projected performance figures promised a top speed of roughly 1,000 km/h (620 mph) and an operational ceiling above 12,000 m, allowing it to intercept targets within minutes of detection.
Although the P.13a never left the drawing board, its innovative approach to rocket propulsion, tailless aerodynamics, and minimalistic structure influenced post‑war research in high‑speed flight. The concept foreshadowed later supersonic and spaceplane projects, marking Lippisch’s contribution as a seminal bridge between wartime experimentation and the modern era of jet and rocket aircraft.
Although the P.13a never left the drawing board, its innovative approach to rocket propulsion, tailless aerodynamics, and minimalistic structure influenced post‑war research in high‑speed flight. The concept foreshadowed later supersonic and spaceplane projects, marking Lippisch’s contribution as a seminal bridge between wartime experimentation and the modern era of jet and rocket aircraft.
Classification
Design & Classification
- Manufacturer
- Alexander Lippisch
- Designer
- Alexander Lippisch
- Engine
- ramjet
- Wikidata ID
- Q1827557