Gotha Ka 430
Gotha · Germany · first flew 1944 · glider
The Gotha Ka 430 was a German military cargo and assault glider designed in 1944 as an improved replacement for the DFS 230 and Go 242, featuring a rear-loading access door for vehicles and heavy cargo.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.22 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unpowered sailplane — no engine
- Late-war German cargo assault glider
- Twin-boom high-wing glider with rear-loading ramp
High-wing twin-boom glider with a prominent boxy central fuselage pod; rear-loading ramp distinguishes it from the simpler DFS 230; no engines anywhere on the airframe.
Specifications
- The Gotha Ka 430 has a length of 13.22 m (43 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 19.5 m (64 ft).
- Typical crew: 2 + 12 troops.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Gotha in 1944 to address the limitations of earlier German assault gliders, the Ka 430 incorporated a high-wing twin-boom layout and a rear fuselage access ramp. It was tested in 1944 but the deteriorating war situation prevented series production or operational deployment.
Variants
Only prototypes were completed; no production variants reached service.
Where you'll see it
The Ka 430 never entered operational service with the Luftwaffe due to the collapse of the German war effort in 1944–1945.
Related aircraft
- Gotha Go 242
- Gotha Go 241
- Gotha Go 244
- Gotha Go 146
- Blohm und Voss BV 238
- Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter
- Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina
- Cornelius XFG-1
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