Messerschmitt Bf 163
Messerschmitt (BFW / Weserflug) · Germany · first flew 1938 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Messerschmitt Bf 163 was a German STOL army-cooperation and observation aircraft designed by BFW and built by Weser Flugzeugbau. It was a competitor to the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.75 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High-wing braced monoplane of metal construction
- Exceptionally tall undercarriage
- Automatic leading-edge slots and double slotted flaps; incidence of the whole wing could be varied
A Storch-like high-wing braced two-seater with a tall main undercarriage. Its tail layout is assumed conventional, as no source read states it.
Specifications
- The Messerschmitt Bf 163 has a length of 9.75 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.58 m (45 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 180 km/h (112 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was drawn up to the same requirement as the Fi 156 and followed its formula closely. The prototype first flew on 19 February 1938 with a 240 hp Argus As 10C.
Variants
Only the Bf 163 V1 flew; parts for a second prototype were made but it was not completed.
Where you'll see it
Its performance was similar to the Storch but it was more complex and expensive, so work stopped. The prototype was later handed to a technical school in Munich.
Related aircraft
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