Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-9
Focke-Wulf · Germany · first flew 1944 · fighter
The 'long-nose' Fw 190, powered by a Junkers Jumo inline engine instead of the familiar radial, giving a slim elongated fuselage and chin radiator that superficially resemble a Bf 109 from a distance.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Elongated, pointed nose housing the Junkers Jumo 213A inline engine — a stretched fuselage plug forward of the cockpit is visually obvious |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Elongated, pointed nose housing the Junkers Jumo 213A inline engine — a stretched fuselage plug forward of the cockpit is visually obvious
- Annular chin radiator bath below the spinner, replacing the A-series' circular cowl flaps — the underside of the nose shows the radiator lip
- Fuselage extended at both nose and tail to compensate for the longer engine, giving a noticeably longer, slimmer profile than the radial A-series
Against the Fw 190A: the D's slim, pointed inline nose is the opposite of the A's wide radial cowl. Against the Bf 109G: the D retains the Fw 190's broader wing and squared tips, plus a wider fuselage cross-section.
Specifications
- The Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-9 has a length of 10.2 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.51 m (34 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 704 km/h (437 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in September 1944 to defend Luftwaffe airfields against Allied fighter sweeps, the D-9 was considered by many German pilots the best German piston fighter of the war. It equipped elite Jagdverband 44 in the war's final weeks.
Variants
D-9 was the primary production mark; proposed D-11 and D-13 with heavier armament did not enter widespread service. The Ta 152H was the intended successor.
Where you'll see it
Surviving D-9s are museum pieces; the best-known is at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center. No D-9 is known to be airworthy.
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