The Messerschmitt ME 165 was developed to meet the Reichsluftfahrtministerium requirement for a long range strategic fighter capable of escorting the Arado E.555 Amerika bomber on its sorties.
Messerschmitt developed a similar flying wing to the Arado project and their Me 163 Komet, with 3 jet engines 2 of which can be disabled in flight to assist with fuel conservation (AG8) but are required to assist on takeoff and during aerial combat.
Armament consisted of 6 x × 30 mm (1.181 in) Rheinmetall Borsig MK 108 cannon with 60 rpg (B-1a) which gave it a healthy bite. Speed was similar to the proposed bomber project and faster than piston engine fighters of the day.
Produced in small numbers in 1944 alongside the production version of the Arado E.555 it proved to be a versitile fighter. Due to the design criteria / mission briefs spending a significant period of time over the atlantic is was decided to adopt a mid blue top paint coat and light grey underside, the aircraft was also made watertight so the pilot could emergency land at sea.
Ag1 to jettison external fuel tanks, Landing Gear to retract wheels, trim for elevator as necessary.
Specifications
General Characteristics
- Created On Windows
- Wingspan 49.4ft (15.1m)
- Length 20.7ft (6.3m)
- Height 13.5ft (4.1m)
- Empty Weight 248lbs (112kg)
- Loaded Weight 16,827lbs (7,632kg)
Performance
- Power/Weight Ratio 6.009
- Wing Loading 6.2lbs/ft2 (30.1kg/m2)
- Wing Area 2,726.9ft2 (253.3m2)
- Drag Points 4026
Parts
- Number of Parts 277
- Control Surfaces 0
- Performance Cost 1,149
@M4FL10 fuel consumption in the game is at an accelerated rate, I don't know about a rebuild I still have too many new builds to finish ;)
My only complaint is that in its lore/history it’s a “long range escort fighter” but in actual flight it’s more of a short range interceptor because of its fuel consumption. however, I do think that this is a very fun plane to fly, and has potential.
(P.S. do you think you could do a remake of this?)
@Spitfirelad05 it has outriggers as well, they fold up below the fins.
@RamboJutter How do you keep it upright with the wheels only in the center?
@Rhinower7aeronautics thanks, in regard to speed this quotes the arado speed at 530mph, now mine doesn't do 800mph. I aimed at 560-600. Ground operations are limited, same as the me163 which only had a skid, you can taxy around carefully using the yaw of the rudders but this wasn't ever a consideration as in real life a tractor would be used to get them lined up and removed after operations (no different to natters, komet etc). With regards to landing i didn't design it for rough landing as I didn't see that as part of the brief, I would have just had a skid if the game had life like frictional characteristics. With regards to water landing, I don't think thrust reversal is very 1940s, again if the game had better friction with the ground / water a long run wouldn't happen but I wasn't comfortable cheating it for what was after all a simple build and a secondary "perk". Just my take on those comments. Thanks again.
Cool escort plane . Good job .
@Sgtk :) glad someone figured that out.
I was sailing ships prior to downloading this and was pleasantly surprised to find that this is capable of water takeoffs instead of just landings. Nice work!!