Gotha
Gotha Go P.60
The Gotha Go P.60 was a German experimental fighter developed by Gothaer Waggonfabrik in the final months of World War II. Conceived in early 1945 as a response to the Luftwaffe’s need for a high‑performance interceptor, the P.60 combined a low‑drag, all‑metal monoplane layout with a revolutionary twin‑boom tail and a centrally mounted Jumo 213E liquid‑cooled engine driving a contra‑rotating propeller. Its wing featured a mildly tapered planform and integrated leading‑edge slats that promised excellent low‑speed handling, while the cockpit was faired into the nose for optimal pilot visibility. The aircraft was equipped with a heavy armament of two 30 mm MK 108 cannons and optional R‑4M rockets, making it capable of engaging both bomber formations and Allied fighters.
Only two prototypes were completed before Allied forces occupied the Gotha plant, and flight testing never progressed beyond brief ground‑run trials. Nevertheless, the Go P.60 illustrated several forward‑looking concepts—such as the twin‑boom configuration and contra‑rotating propeller—that influenced post‑war German designs and later NATO prototypes. Its brief existence underscores the rapid technological escalation in late‑war aviation and the unrealized potential of Germany’s final fighter projects. It remains a subject of interest for aviation historians.
Only two prototypes were completed before Allied forces occupied the Gotha plant, and flight testing never progressed beyond brief ground‑run trials. Nevertheless, the Go P.60 illustrated several forward‑looking concepts—such as the twin‑boom configuration and contra‑rotating propeller—that influenced post‑war German designs and later NATO prototypes. Its brief existence underscores the rapid technological escalation in late‑war aviation and the unrealized potential of Germany’s final fighter projects. It remains a subject of interest for aviation historians.
Classification
Design & Classification
- Primary Use
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Gotha
- Wikidata ID
- Q1953303