The Luftwaffe's 'final blade' cutting through the blue sky!
What is the ultimate reciprocating fighter plane?. The 'Ta 152'!
The 'Ta 152' is a special high-altitude fighter plane that was the pride of the German Air Force, which fought to the end as an ally of Japan during World War II.
At that time, Germany, like Japan, needed to counter enemy bombers such as the 'B-17' that flew across continents. Dr. Kurt Tank, chief designer of Focke-Wulf, advocated that 'fighters should be war horses, not race horses,' and the new aircraft developed based on the delicate yet bold design philosophy unique to the German Air Force was completed as the 'Ta 152' named after the doctor. Only a few pre-production models, the 'H-0' and the mass-production model 'H-1,' were deployed in combat, and it is said that with their high turning performance due to their long and beautiful wingspan like a glider, they were able to compete on equal terms with the P-51D, the best fighter plane of World War II that escorted enemy bombers.
What's important here is that while the Shinden attempted a comeback with a new approach, the Ta 152 pursued high performance by sticking to a more orthodox style. This is exactly why it is called the 'ultimate reciprocating fighter.' Historically, the
only ace pilot of the Ta 152, Senior Sergeant Joseph Keil, was credited with shooting down a B-17.
Check out the expressive and beautifully sculpted propellers!
Please take a look at the 'VS 9' type propeller, which is beautifully sculpted without compromising the wide, gentle outline unique to wood and the sharp edges that cut through the air.
The detailed reproduction of the engine is well worth seeing!
Equipped with a liquid-cooled inverted V-12 engine 'Jumo 213 E'. By passing the 'MK 108' 30mm motor cannon through the center of the engine, it gained not only high altitude performance but also great firepower.
What is the workplace like for pilots who fight at ultra-high altitudes?
It is pressurized to withstand high-altitude flights of over 8,000m. The rear canopy, which slides open and closes, has a hook at the bottom of the frame that fastens it to the fuselage for pressure resistance.
