Gotha Go 241
Gotha · Germany · first flew 1940 · glider
The Gotha Go 241 was a German World War II twin-engine powered transport derived from the Go 242 glider, intended to give the basic glider airframe self-ferry capability. It saw very limited use.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.02 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- German WWII military glider converted to powered transport
- Twin-boom tail with high-mounted straight wing
- Developed from the Go 242 glider series
High-wing twin-boom transport with twin radial engines, a boxy central fuselage pod, and the same basic twin-tail layout as the Go 242 glider.
Specifications
- The Gotha Go 241 has a length of 9.02 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.5 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 255 km/h (158 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 + troops/cargo.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Go 242 was Germany's standard assault glider, and adding engines to create the Go 244 (and the related Go 241) was seen as a way to allow the aircraft to ferry itself to forward bases. The powered versions proved underpowered with captured French Gnome-Rhône radial engines and were not produced in large numbers. The concept was only partially successful.
Variants
The Go 244 was the parallel powered variant using a different engine arrangement; the Go 241 was an earlier, slightly different powered experiment.
Where you'll see it
Used in small numbers by the Luftwaffe on the Eastern Front and in the Mediterranean in 1942-43.
Related aircraft
- Gotha Go 244
- Gotha Go 242
- Gotha Go 146
- Gotha Go 149
- Aichi H9A
- Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle
- Curtiss C-46 Commando
- DFS 331
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