Messerschmitt Me 310

The Messerschmitt Me 310 was a German twin‑engine heavy fighter prototype developed in the early 1940s as an attempt to remedy the serious handling flaws of its predecessor, the Me 210. Initiated in 1941, the project was overseen by Messerschmitt and intended to provide the Luftwaffe with a faster, more stable platform for long‑range escort and ground‑attack missions. The Me 310 incorporated a number of key changes: a revised, slightly swept wing with increased dihedral, a strengthened fuselage, a pressurised cockpit for high‑altitude operation, and a tricycle undercarriage to improve ground handling. Power was supplied by two Daimler‑Benz DB 605A‑1 liquid‑cooled V‑12 engines delivering 1,475 hp each, driving four‑blade propellers that gave the aircraft a top speed of roughly 630 km/h (390 mph). Although flight trials in 1942 demonstrated improved stability and a respectable climb rate, the airframe suffered from persistent vibration and the anticipated production line was disrupted by shifting wartime priorities. Consequently the Me 310 never entered series production; its development was folded into the more successful Me 410 Hornisse. Nevertheless, the Me 310’s design innovations – especially the streamlined nose and tricycle gear – informed post‑war twin‑engine fighter concepts and underscored the importance of addressing aerodynamic balance in high‑performance aircraft.