Focke-Wulf Flitzer

The Focke‑Wulf Flitzer was a post‑war experimental jet fighter developed by the German manufacturer Focke‑Wulf in the early 1950s. Conceived as a high‑speed interceptor, the Flitzer originated from a 1951 NATO requirement for a lightweight, swept‑wing aircraft capable of supersonic flight. Only two prototypes, designated V1 and V2, were built; both featured a distinctive twin‑boom tail, a centrally mounted Rolls‑Royce Nene turbojet, and sharply swept 40‑degree wings with leading‑edge slats. The aircraft incorporated an all‑moving horizontal stabiliser and a tricycle undercarriage, reflecting contemporary advances in aerodynamics and control systems. Flight testing in 1953 demonstrated a top speed of approximately Mach 0.9 and excellent roll rates, but development was halted due to budget constraints and the rapid emergence of more powerful engines. Despite its short life, the Flitzer contributed valuable data on swept‑wing behavior and twin‑boom layouts, influencing later German designs such as the Fiat G.91 licensed production. Its legacy endures as a symbol of Germany’s early Cold‑War effort to re‑establish a native jet fighter industry and as a technical stepping stone toward modern European combat aircraft. Today the surviving V1 is displayed at the Luftfahrtmuseum Hannover, a tangible reminder of German ingenuity in a pivotal aviation era.

Focke-Wulf

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