DFS 228
Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug · Germany · first flew 1944 · reconnaissance aircraft
The DFS 228 was a rocket-powered, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft designed in Germany during World War II.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × rocket, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.58 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Conventional sailplane arrangement with long, slender wings
- Retractable skid under the belly for landing
- Detachable nose forming a pressurised escape capsule
Look for a long-winged sailplane-like aircraft with a belly skid in place of wheels and a separable nose capsule.
Specifications
- The DFS 228 has a length of 10.58 m (35 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17.56 m (58 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was developed from the DFS 54 high-altitude glider research project, revived in 1940 to meet an RLM requirement. The first prototype was completed in March 1944 and was undergoing gliding tests by August, carried aloft atop a Dornier Do 217.
Variants
The DFS 54 was the experimental pressure-cabin glider, and the DFS 228 was its powered variant with a Walter HWK 509D rocket. The second prototype carried the pilot prone.
Where you'll see it
The prototypes made forty flights, all unpowered, and the rocket was never installed. The second prototype was destroyed in an air raid in May 1945 and the first was captured by US troops in June.
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- DFS 331
- DFS DFS 194
- DFS Sperber Junior
- DFS Sperber Senior
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- Short S.45 Seaford
- Short Shetland
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