Heinkel He 219TL "Uhu"

Research Aircraft

An artist impression of the He 219TL(BMW 003)

Test Engine:

1x BMW 003 axial-flow turbojet making 800 kg of thrust

Specification for He 219 A-7

Engine: 2x Daimler-Benz DB 603E piston engines @ 1,900 hp each

Wing Span: 18.50 m

Length: 15.54 m

Height: 4.1 m

Weight: Empty 11,200 kg / Loaded 15,200 kg

Maximum Speed: 670 km/h

Ceiling: 12,700 m

Range: 2,000 km

Crew: 2

Armament: 2x 30 mm Mk 108 cannons in wing roots / 2x 30mm Mk 103 cannons & 2x 20mm MG 151/20 cannons in belly tray / 2x 30mm Mk 108 cannons in Shräge Musik mount.

History:

The wind tunnel model of the He 219TL

In September 1943 a He 219 was upgraded by the fitting of a BMW 003 turbojet engine, with to aim to increase performance and over come the He 219's chronic problem of being underpowered, even with two DB 603 piston engines!

The BMW 003 axial-flow turbojet engine was fitted under the fuselage behind the front wheel, the gun pod being removed. The out come of this work was disappointing for when the three engined Heinkel was tested an increase of just 60-70 km/h was recorded. No further work on this project is known to have taken place,

A Heinkel works drawing of how the BMW engine was fitted to the under side of the He 219 "Uhu", it can be seen that the whole of the under side of the aircraft was rebuilt with the loss of the belly gun pack.