P72016 BLOHM VOSS BV-40 ROCKET GLIDER INTERCEPTOR

The Blohm und Voss Bv 40 was a prototype German WWII fighter glider. The ship, let's say, was built in the high-wing configuration and was of a mixed structure. The prototype flight took place in 1944. The glider, however, never entered production. The length of this aircraft was 5.7 meters with a wingspan of 7.9 meters. The deck armament was to consist of two 30mm Mk.108 cannons. Blohm und Voss Bv 40 was constructed to attack Allied strategic bomber formations. It was assumed that the glider would be lifted into the air, being towed by e.g. Me-109 fighters, and then it would make a sliding attack. From the outset, it was assumed that the Bv 40 would be as simple as possible to construct, and that the minimum amount of metals was used in its construction. However, the cockpit armor was used. Also, efforts were made to make the new aircraft as easy to pilot as possible. Interestingly, in a horizontal flight, the glider reached a speed of approx. 550 km / h. A total of a dozen prototypes were built, but the Bv 40 never made it past the trial and testing stage.