Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet

The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet, developed by the German company Messerschmitt during World II, was the world’s first operational rocket‑powered fighter. Conceived in 1937 by Alexander Lippisch’s team, the aircraft first flew in 1941 and entered limited service with the Luftwaffe in 1944. Its tailless, swept‑wing design and all‑metal construction gave the Komet a sleek, almost futuristic appearance. Powered by a Walter HWK 109‑509 liquid‑propellant rocket engine, the Me 163 could climb to 12,000 m in under three minutes and achieve a top speed of 950 km/h, far surpassing contemporary piston‑engine fighters. However, the engine’s short burn time of about eight minutes and the hazardous fuel mixture of hydrogen peroxide and hydrazine made operations extremely dangerous, leading to high accident rates. Despite its limited combat impact—only a few victories were claimed before Allied air superiority curtailed its use—the Komet demonstrated the extreme performance potential of rocket propulsion and influenced post‑war research into high‑speed and vertical‑take‑off aircraft. Approximately 370 units were built before production stopped, and surviving examples are displayed at the Deutsches Museum in Munich and the Royal Air Force Museum, drawing interest from historians and enthusiasts.

Messerschmitt

Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet

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