P4139 VFW-614 - LUFTWAFFE

The VFW-Fokker 614 (or VFW-614) was a West German low-wing airliner that was first flown in July 1971 and entered service in 1975. The machine was 20.6 m long, with a wingspan of 21.5 m and a maximum take-off weight of approx. 19,950 kg. The drive was provided by two Rolls-Royce / SNECMA M45H Mk.501 turbofan engines with a thrust of 33.2 kN each. The maximum speed is 704 km / h, with a range of 1,195 kilometers. 19 machines of this type were created in the course of serial production. The VFW-Fokker 614 was the first passenger jet to be built from start to finish in Germany after the end of World War II. The aircraft design was developed in the 1960s for the needs of West German carriers to replace the Douglas DC-3 aircraft. It was assumed that the machine would be able to transport up to 40-45 passengers over a distance of approx. 1000-1200 kilometers. Initially, it was also planned to use engines from the USA, and only with time it was decided to use Rolls-Royce- / SNECMA power units. A very unusual design solution was the use of motors on pylons mounted on the wings. Despite the fact that the VFW-Fokker 614 turned out to be quite a successful design, on which various defects and shortcomings were systematically and rather quickly removed, it turned out to be a misfire and did not bring the expected profits. However, the plane served a total of 3 airlines from Denmark and France and the West German Luftwaffe.