Blohm & Voss BV 222 Wiking
Blohm & Voss · Germany · first flew 1940 · transport aircraft
The Blohm & Voss BV 222 Wiking was a large six-engined German flying boat and the biggest Axis flying boat to enter production and operation in the Second World War.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 6 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 37 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Six engines in a row along a high-mounted wing
- Very large flying boat hull
- Largest Axis flying boat to enter production in the Second World War
Recognise it by the huge hull and the line of six engines along the high wing.
Specifications
- The Blohm & Voss BV 222 Wiking has a length of 37 m (121 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 46 m (151 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 330 km/h (205 mph).
- Typical crew: 11-14.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed in the late 1930s as a transatlantic airliner for Luft Hansa. The first aircraft flew on 7 September 1940, by which time the war had ended the prospect of long-distance civil services, and development turned to military roles.
Variants
Prototypes were V1 to V8 and production aircraft C-09 to C-13. Prototypes mostly had six Bramo 323 radials; the BV 222C used Jumo 207C diesels.
Where you'll see it
The Luftwaffe used it for transport in Norway, France, North Africa and the Arctic. It could carry 92 troops or 72 stretcher patients. After the Normandy invasion the survivors passed to KG 200, and none has been preserved.
Related aircraft
- Blohm & Voss BV 141
- Blohm & Voss Ha 142
- Blohm & Voss BV 138
- Blohm & Voss Ha 140
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- Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle
- CANT Z.511
- Curtiss C-46 Commando
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