HE 177 BOMBER

The Heinkel He-177 Greif (German: gryphon) is a German, four-engine, long-range heavy bomber with an all-metal structure in the dorsal wing configuration. The prototype flight took place in November 1939. The line was entered in 1941, and serial production continued in the period 1941-1944. According to various sources, about 1,100-1300 aircraft of the AO to A-5 versions were built. The propulsion of the plane was very unusual. The role of the power unit was played by two 24-cylinder Dailmer-Benz DB 610A-1 / B-1 engines placed in two nacelles with a capacity of 2900KM each, one of which was created by combining two other engines. It is therefore possible to risk saying that the He-177 was in fact a four-engine aircraft, but with only two propellers! During operation, the aircraft frequently failed, especially the engines, which could catch fire during the flight. The undercarriage, the shafts of which often broke, was also a problem. These and other problems determined the common opinion that despite the technological advancement, the He-177 was a highly unsuccessful aircraft. Technical data: length: 22m, wingspan: 31.44m, height: 6.67m, maximum speed: 565km / h, climb speed: 3.2m / s, maximum range: 5600km, maximum ceiling 8000m, armament: fixed-2 20mm MG151 cannons and 4 13mm MG131 cannons, suspended - up to 6000kg of bombs.