null
Toggle menu
Free Shipping on orders $75+ (Click for details)
Toggle menu
1-855-215-2914
Aviation Oil Outlet
Log In Create an Account Quote Request Credit Application Contact Us
View Cart Cart
loginLogin
Cart Cart

HOME OUR PRODUCTS OUR MISSION CUSTOMER SERVICE VIDEO BLOG
sun-n-fun logo
sun-n-fun countdown
Aviation Oil Outlet Aviation Oil Outlet
  • Aviation Lubricants By Application
    • All Aviation Lubricants By Application
    • Aviation Piston Engine Oils
      • Straight Grade Mineral Oil for Engine Break-in
      • Straight Grade Ashless Engine Oil for Normal Use
      • Multi-Viscosity Mineral Oil for Engine Break-in
      • Multi-Viscosity Ashless Engine Oil for Normal Use
      • Multi-Viscosity Grade Oil for Light Sport Aircraft
      • Aviation Oil with Lycoming LW 16702 Additives
    • Aviation Turbine Oil
    • Aviation Hydraulic Oil
    • Aerobatic Smoke Oil
    • Aviation Greases
  • Aviation Lubricants By Weight
    • All Aviation Lubricants By Weight
    • Aviation Grade 65, SAE 30
      • Straight 65 Grade Mineral, Break-In Oil
    • Aviation Grade 80, SAE 40
      • Straight 80 Grade Mineral, Break-In Oil
      • Straight 80 Grade, Normal Operation Ashless
    • Aviation Grade 100, SAE 50
      • Straight 100 Grade Mineral, Break-In Oil
      • Straight 100 Grade, Normal Operation Ashless
      • Grade 100 with Lycoming LW 16702 Additives
    • Aviation Grade 120, SAE 60
      • Grade 120 Mineral, Break-in Oil
      • Grade 120 Ashless for Normal Operation
    • Aviation Oil SAE 10w-40
    • Aviation Oil SAE 15w-50
      • Multi-Grade 15w-50 Ashless for Normal Use
    • Aviation Oil SAE 20w-50
      • Multi-Grade 20w-50 Break-In Oil
      • Multi-Grade 20W-50 Ashless for Normal Use
    • Aviation Oil SAE 25w-60
      • Multi-Grade 25w-60 for Engine Break-In
      • Multi-Grade 25w-60 Ashless for Normal Use
  • Sanitary Products
  • Bookmark Our Site
  • Get Aviation Oil Outlet's FREE Web App
  • PayPal Resource Page
  • Credit Application
  • Shipping Information
  • Our Products
  • Our Mission
  • Customer Service
  • Video
  • Blog
  • Return Policy
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Quote Request
  • Terms and Conditions of Online Sales
  • Online Shopping Security
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Shop By Brands
  • Login Create an Account
  • Blog
  • Site Map
The Flight Blog - Read Articles The Flight Blog - Read Articles
Back to Blog Homepage
Plane of the Week: Messerschmitt Me 262

Plane of the Week: Messerschmitt Me 262

By Sarah Simonovich on Sep 15th 2017

The World's First Operational Jet Fighter  


While the design for the Messerschmitt Me 262 began pre-World War II, it didn't reach operational status with the Luftwaffe until mid-1944. Even then, only small numbers of Me 262s actually appeared in combat.

Design and Development

Several years before the onset of WWII, Germans saw the potential for aircraft utilizing Hans Joachim Pabst von Ohain's jet engine (constructed in 1936). In the late 1930s, Ohain got together with aircraft designer/manufacturer Dr. Ernst Heinkel to create the world's first jet aircraft--the Heinkel He 178. After the He 178's successful test flights, and within a week of Germany's invasion of Poland, Germany adopted the jet engine for an advanced fighter aircraft. This began the development of Projekt 1065.

The Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM, Ministry of Aviation) requested a jet aircraft capable of one hour's endurance and a speed of at least 530 mph. For the project,  Dr. Waldemar Voigt headed the design team with Messerschmitt's chief of development, Robert Lusser, overseeing.

Designers first drew up plans for the Me 262 in April 1939. They submitted plans two months later. These design plans were significantly different from the aircraft that would eventually enter service in 1944. One of these changes was in wing design; technical issues involving the jet engine delayed progression and called for changes in wing design. Messerschmitt initially designed the engine for wing roots but made the change to underwing pods. This placement was important for availability and maintenance.

Besides engine issues, the jet engine program also faced funding issues. Initially, many high-ranking German officials believed the war could be won solely with conventional aircraft. Hermann Göring, head of the Luftwaffe, was among those who didn't see the benefit of jet engine power.

Test flights began on April 18, 1941. The first successful flight (entirely on jet power) occurred on July 18, 1942. For this flight, the Me 262 was powered by a pair of Jumo 004 engines.

Operation

In mid-1943, Adolf Hitler envisioned the Messerschmitt Me 262 as a ground-attack/bomber aircraft rather than a defensive interceptor. Hilter's edict resulted in different versions of the Me 262: the Schwalbe ("Swallow") fighter version and the Sturmvogel ("Storm Bird") fighter-bomber version. For a while, historians thought Hitler's edict delayed the Messerschmitt Me 262 introduction into combat. However, this delay had more to do with lengthy and difficult jet engine development.

On April 19, 1944, Erprobungskommando 262 became the first test unit to introduce the Me 262 into service and train a corps of pilots to fly it. In July 1944, the unit was redesignated to Kommando Nowotny. Essentially a trials and development unit, Kommando Nowotny mounted the world's first jet fighter operations. They flew initial operational missions against the Allies in August 1944. The unit claimed 19 Allied aircraft in exchange of six Me 262s lost.

Me 262 fighter units mounted large-scale attacks on Allied bomber formations for the first time in March 1945. On March 18, 1945, 37 Me 262s intercepted an Allied force of 1,221 bombers and 632 escorting fighters. The German Me 262s shot down 12 bombers and one fighter for the loss of three Me 262s.

The Messerschmitt Me 26 proved to be faster and more heavily armed than any Allied fighter, including the British jet-powered Gloster Meteor. For the rest of the War, the Me 26 has a number of roles, including light bomber, reconnaissance and experimental night fighter versions. Me 262 pilots claimed a total of 542 Allied aircraft shot down.

Even though it was one of the most advanced aviation designs used in World War II, the Messerschmitt Me 26's  success only represented about 1% of Germany's attacking force. Of the 1,443 Me 262s Messerschmitt produced, only around 300 actually saw combat. The other aircraft were destroyed either in training accidents or by Allied bombing attacks.

Status

German use of the Me 262 ended with the close of the war. However, a small number were operated by the Czechoslovak Air Force until 1951. Captured Me 262s studied by major powers influenced the designs of several of post-war aircraft including the North American F-86 Sabre and Boeing B-47 Stratojet. A number of Me 262s have survived and are on static display in museums. There are also a few privately built reproductions utilizing modern General Electric J85 engines.




Sources:

Featured Image modified using ME 262 photo By Julian Herzog, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21567636

https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/messerschmitt-me-262-1a-schwalbe-swallow

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Me_262
  • #Plane Of The Week
  • #first fighter jet
  • #first jet fighter
  • #german aircraft
  • #german planes
  • #German WWII planes
  • #important aircraft
  • #important planes
  • #jet power
  • #Luftwaffe
  • #Me 262
  • #Me 262 Schwalbe
  • #Me 262 Sturmvogel
  • #Messerschmitt Me 262
  • #World War II aircraft
  • #World War II

You might also be interested in:


Newsletter | May 2022
by Aviation Oil Outlet on May 5th 2022

Another Year in the Books! Sun 'N Fun 22 Edition
monthly newsletter
Newsletter | April 2022
by Aviation Oil Outlet on Apr 8th 2022

AeroShell Aviation Grease Grease 5 amber colored, high temperature grease composed of a…
monthly newsletter
Newsletter | March 2022
by Aviation Oil Outlet on Mar 4th 2022

Recommendations for Infrequently Flown Aircraft Ideally, aircraft engines should be use…
monthly newsletter
!

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales

aoo logo
Aviation Oil Outlet
454 South Main Street
Wilkes Barre, PA 18703
United States of America

1-855-215-2914

Information

  • About Us
  • Brands
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Online Shopping Security
  • Privacy Policy
  • Shipping Information
  • Terms & Conditions of Online Sales
  • Terms of Use
  • Video Library

Customer Service

  • Contact
  • Credit Application
  • Quote Request
  • Returns
  • Sitemap

Account

  • Account
  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • Order History

© 2022 Aviation Oil Outlet

payment method icons Bizrate
​