Messerschmitt P.1111

German fighter project

Me P.1111

Me P.1111 model at the Technik Museum Speyer
Role	Fighter Type of aircraft
Manufacturer	Messerschmitt
Status	Project terminated
Primary user	Luftwaffe
Number built	None
Developed from	Me P.1110 Ente

The Messerschmitt P.1111 was a jet fighter/interceptor project, designed by Messerschmitt for the Luftwaffe near the end of World War II.

History

The innovative design of the Me P.1111 was completed in January 1945, and was intended as an improvement to the Messerschmitt P.1110 Ente.^[1]

The Messerschmitt P.1111 was an 8.92 m long tailless airplane with nearly delta-shaped wings, swept back at a 45 degree angle, and a wingspan of 9.12 m.^[2] It was equipped with a pressurized cockpit for a single pilot. The planned powerplant was a Heinkel HeS 011 turbojet engine, and armament was to be four 30 mm MK 108 cannon.

During a design review comparison conference in Oberammergau on February 27 and 28, 1945 the P. 1111 fared outstanding in the area of performance in high-speed flight capability, take-off, climb and landing performance. The experts held the opinion that these qualities demonstrated a fundamental superiority of the flying wing construction type. However, the P.1111 was ruled out due to the impossibility of protecting the fuel.

Only one wooden model was built. The project was later further developed into the Me P.1112.^[3]

Specifications

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 8.92 m (29 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 9.16 m (30 ft 1 in)
Wing area: 28.0 m² (301 sq ft)
Empty weight: 2,740 kg (6,041 lb)
Gross weight: 4,282 kg (9,440 lb)
Fuel capacity: 1,250 kg (2,756 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Heinkel HeS 011A turbojet engine, 12.74 kN (2,865 lbf) thrust

Performance

Maximum speed: 900 km/h (560 mph, 490 kn) at sea level

995 km/h (618 mph; 537 kn) at 7,000 m (23,000 ft)

Landing speed: 155 km/h (96 mph; 84 kn)
Landing run: 450 m (1,480 ft)
Stall speed: 155 km/h (96 mph, 84 kn) 1/3 fuel full ammunition
Range: 1,500 km (930 mi, 810 nmi)
Service ceiling: 14,000 m (46,000 ft) and higher
Rate of climb: 23.7 m/s (4,670 ft/min) at sea level
Take-off run: 600 m (2,000 ft)

Armament

Guns: 4 × 30mm MK 108 cannon (two in nose, and two more in wings)

References

^ Heinz J. Nowarra: Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945, Band 3, Bernard & Graefe Verlag Koblenz 1993, ISBN 3-7637-5466-0, page 253
^ Jean-Denis Lepage, Aircraft of the Luftwaffe, 1935-1945: An Illustrated Guide
^ Walter Schick, Ingolf Meyer: Geheimprojekte der Luftwaffe - Band I: Jagdflugzeuge 1939–1945, Motorbuch-Verlag Stuttgart 1996, ISBN 3-613-01631-1