Dornier Do 335 Pfeil
Dornier · Germany · first flew 1943 · fighter
The Dornier Do 335 Pfeil (Arrow) was a high-performance German fighter and heavy fighter featuring a unique push-pull engine arrangement, with one engine in the nose and a second driving a rear pusher propeller. It was the fastest piston-engine aircraft of World War II.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.85 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Cruciform |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Push-pull twin-engine layout — one tractor, one pusher
- Cruciform tail with lower fin to protect rear propeller
- Fastest piston-engine aircraft of WWII
Absolutely unique silhouette: a long, sleek mid-wing aircraft with propellers at both ends of the fuselage, cruciform tail, and no obvious way to determine front from rear at a glance.
Specifications
- The Dornier Do 335 Pfeil has a length of 13.85 m (45 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.8 m (45 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 765 km/h (475 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in September 1943, the Do 335 entered limited production but the war ended before significant numbers could reach front-line units. Its push-pull layout required a cruciform tail with a downward-facing fin to protect the rear propeller during belly landings, and an ejection seat to prevent crew contact with the pusher prop. Only about 37 aircraft were completed.
Variants
The Do 335A-1 single-seat fighter was the primary version; the Do 335A-6 was a two-seat night-fighter variant. The Do 335B series with a heavier armament was planned but not completed.
Where you'll see it
Never fully entered combat service; a handful were flown by III./EG 1 in the final weeks of the war. Several airframes were captured and evaluated by the USA and UK.
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