Me 163 B, Komet by bmac62
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Description
...been looking for a good time to present this collection of photos of this amazing German WWII rocket plane.
...this is for Neil (neiwil) who today has posted "Wunderwaffe". Click Here
...191660 is sitting in a collection about three miles from our house at Paine Field, Washington State.
Background Notes:
This aircraft: One of twenty types of planes built by the Junkers Aircraft company in factories in Oranienberg, Germany, it was towed as a glider to Husum Luftwaffe base in Northern Germany, on December 18, 1944. At Husum it became part of the Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing) 400, but it is unknown whether it ever flew in combat. It was captured by the British on May 8, 1945 shipped to the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough, England. This is one of only a dozen Me 163 Komets still in existence.
Me 163 B, Werknummer 191660, "Yellow 3", is owned by Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection. Between 1961 and 1976, this aircraft was displayed at the Imperial War Museum in London. In 1976, it was moved to the Imperial War Museum Duxford. It underwent a lengthy restoration, beginning in 1997, that was frequently halted as the restorers were diverted to more pressing projects. In May 2005, it was sold, reportedly for 800,000 pounds, to raise money for the purchase of a de Havilland/Airco DH.9 as the Duxford museum had no examples of a World War I bomber in its collection. Permission for export was granted by the British government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport as three other Komets were held in British museums.
Bill
P.S. Please zoom for details:)
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Comments (30)
Richardphotos
I have only seen pictures of this, but a local museum has the first jet(world)(Russian) to fly twice as fast as the speed of sound superb presentation and captures
jayfar
A super set of pics Bill, not seen this before.
neiwil
Brilliant collage, thanks Bill. I'm amazed at the performance they go out of that tiny motor.Though I suppose it's just a 'mixing bowl' for the fuels....then...boom, away you go. This is the clearest image of the Unit Insignia I've ever seen which is very useful. £800,000 seems a bargain, though probably nearer the 'mil' by now. Thanks again, really appreciate this and the link....cheers mate..
debbielove
Very cool and CLEAR pictures Bill! Wonderful.. LOVE the Unit insignia! The cork going off just about sums up the effect of that Rocket motor! The French (I believe or it may be the Germans!!!!) have built a full size replica glider of this aircraft.. It would SO COOL to see that over Legends, but... Or the Me262 replica, or the original 109, or or But all we seem to get are Spits and Mustangs! ;-) But it would for sure... Fave mate... Rob
fallen21
Awesome shots.
dixievb
THANX, Bill--for the marvelous explain!
Sea_Dog
Superb images! What an amazing aircraft.
awjay
they sure had some wonderful stuff
jmb007
bel avion
jendellas
Great collage & good info!!!
Maxidyne
Thanks for posting this Bill. As a kid this would be the one my dad took me to see at the IWM in London. A big lottery win and it would have been mine :)
jocko500
well done
helanker
This is a mighty beautiful collection of beautiful shots.
T.Rex
My, Bill, looks like Neil inspired you for a change! Thanks a LOT for posting these! As I read Neil's text, I was wondering if anyone had photos of this - and sure enough, you did! And, oh man, it's the one I saw in 1969 at the Imperial War Museum, London, the year I lived in England! Old friend! Already back then I wondered about the tiny "propeller" in the nose. I'll have to check that out. Again, thanks Bill! Keep up the good work! :-)
Rainastorm
Woah, super shots here Bill...great job on this post!
bazza
Nice captures Bill that's some little plane, love the little prop on it lol..
bobrgallegos
Very interesting capture and narrative Bill!!!
MrsRatbag
Excellent collage of all the pertinent bits, Bill!
flavia49
excellent captures
Tamarrion
Two of my favourite things in one package: airplanes & rockets! Great collage! Like T.Rex, I recall wondering about the prop whe I first saw one of these at the museum in Ottawa. Seems to me I later found out it was to power a generator and/or gyros.
Blush
Great image I got sorta a new one hope you dropped by:) Hugs Susan~
auntietk
Nice job showing all the available angles! I went back and looked at Neil's render. You guys are fun to have around! :D
goodoleboy
Sturm and Drang, so that's the plane that harassed our bombers over the Third Reich during WWII. From the various POVs, it looks in pretty good shape, Bill. But what is that silly looking toy propeller doing sitting on the nose in pic #1?
RodS
I'll bet that thing was a real rush when that engine kicked in.... Great shots of this superbly restores pece of history, Bill!
sharky_
Interesting to see its engine. Very nice shot. Aloha
0rest4wicked
Outstanding presentation and narrative!
blinkings
Great stuff mate. They must have been quite the hoot to fly.
cfulton
I really like the POV with the power train in the foreground - I thought it was a cut-away! Clive
Briney
At least the pilot could leave his internal organs back at the airfield for safekeeping??? ;-) Incredibly simple machine in a lot of ways...
danapommet
This is a beauty Bill. It is amazing to think what they almost did.