Focke-Wulf Fw 190

Focke-Wulf · Germany · first flew 1939 · fighter

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 is a single-seat German fighter that, on its 1941 combat debut, briefly outclassed the RAF's Spitfire and became one of the Luftwaffe's most capable wartime types.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	8.95 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Broad blunt radial-engine cowling
Wide-track undercarriage
Bubble canopy with good all-round view

Spot it by the broad, blunt radial cowling that gives the nose a stubby look, distinct from the pointed inline fighters. The wide undercarriage track and clear bubble canopy reinforce the identification.

Specifications

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 has a length of 8.95 m (29 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.51 m (34 ft).
Its maximum speed is 656 km/h (408 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Designed by Kurt Tank, the Fw 190 first flew in 1939 powered by a compact BMW 801 radial engine. Its wide-track undercarriage, excellent roll rate and heavy armament made it a formidable dogfighter and fighter-bomber. Over 20,000 were built in numerous sub-types.

Variants

The radial-engined A-series spawned the F and G ground-attack versions, while the long-nose D-9 'Dora' adopted an inline Junkers Jumo engine. The high-altitude Ta 152 was the ultimate development. Each improved speed, armament or altitude performance.

Where you'll see it

The Fw 190 was an RAF adversary rather than a UK type, prompting development of the Spitfire Mk IX in response. Airworthy reproductions and Flying examples worldwide are mostly new-build A-series lookalikes; no D-9 is airworthy. The RAF Museum and IWM Duxford hold examples and related artefacts.

Related aircraft

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