Was the B-29 the WWII wing-loading champ?
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Was the B-29 the WWII wing-loading champ?
The B-29 had a wing loading of 69 pounds per square foot at max gross, which was way out there at the time (1945). Does anybody know of another airplane that actually flew in service during WWII that had a higher wing loading?
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According to a note to the RAE test flights of captured German jet aircraft in October 1945, here. The wing loading of the Me262 at take-off (less ammunition) was 65 lbs/sq.ft.
Whether these test were flown at MAUW is not clear, it just reports the take-off weight of the test aircraft.
I know that's under the 69 of the B-29, but it's getting close.
(It's interesting reading as it partially compares the Me262 with the Meteor of the day)
Whether these test were flown at MAUW is not clear, it just reports the take-off weight of the test aircraft.
I know that's under the 69 of the B-29, but it's getting close.
(It's interesting reading as it partially compares the Me262 with the Meteor of the day)
B-32?
Well wiki lists the B-32 Dominator at just over 70lbs, not exactly a well known aircraft, but it did serve during the period. Logical as it was designed around a similair specification as the B-29.
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Interesting. The B-32 had pretty much the same high-aspect-ratio Davis wing as the B-29 but at 100,000 pounds gross was substantially heavier, so that makes sense.
The B-32 Dominator, popularly known as the Terminator since it crashed so often, reportedly flew 18 WWII missions.
The B-32 Dominator, popularly known as the Terminator since it crashed so often, reportedly flew 18 WWII missions.
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If you class the Bochum Natter as an aircraft and not just a piloted missile then the loaded weight of 4920lbs carried by 51.7sqft of wing comes out at just over 95lb/sqft of wing loading.
If this is valid then we need to look at the figures for the piloted V1 and the Japanese Baka.
If this is valid then we need to look at the figures for the piloted V1 and the Japanese Baka.
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Interesting thought, but I think I'll fiddle it by specifying "conventional aircraft" or something of the sort. As I remember, all together these three "piloted missiles" made very few flights. But yours is certainly a valid consideration.
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OK I'll try again.
The Habicht glider in it's modified form, the Stummel Habicht, used for training Me163 pilots, had a wing area of just under 100sqft. With a loaded weight of 770lbs this equates to a wing loading of 77.36lbs/sqft.
I bet it didn't thermal or ridge soar very well!
The Habicht glider in it's modified form, the Stummel Habicht, used for training Me163 pilots, had a wing area of just under 100sqft. With a loaded weight of 770lbs this equates to a wing loading of 77.36lbs/sqft.
I bet it didn't thermal or ridge soar very well!
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Having seen pictures of the Bachem Natter in the past but not knowing its name, this thread prompted me to do a quick search, which turned up this four-part video:
YouTube - Bachem Ba 349 Natter teil 1 0f 4
YouTube - Bachem Ba 349 Natter teil 1 0f 4
Dakk651,go and stand in the corner in the Maths classroom...!
Regarding the Marauder, among other names it was called 'the prostitute', because it had no visible means of support! 
