Messerschmitt Me 263
Messerschmitt · Germany · first flew 1945 · fighter
The Messerschmitt Me 263 was a German advanced interceptor prototype developed in the final stages of World War II as a successor to the Me 163 Komet. It featured a retractable undercarriage and improved fuel capacity over its predecessor.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × rocket, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.89 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- German World War II rocket-powered interceptor prototype, development of the Me 163 Komet
- Single rocket or jet engine, swept wings without horizontal tail surfaces initially
- Pointed nose, bubble canopy, retractable undercarriage unlike the Me 163
Similar to the Me 163 but longer with a conventional retractable undercarriage replacing the skid; the addition of a small horizontal tail and the longer fuselage distinguish it from the earlier Komet.
Specifications
- The Messerschmitt Me 263 has a length of 7.89 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.5 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 950 km/h (590 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Derived from the Me 163B and developed with input from Junkers, the Me 263 flew in 1945 with a more conventional undercarriage and greater endurance. The war ended before the type could enter production, and the design influenced postwar Soviet research through captured examples.
Variants
The Me 263 was itself the sole significant variant; work on a two-seat version was not completed before the war ended.
Where you'll see it
Never entered operational service; prototype testing was cut short by Germany's defeat in May 1945. Captured examples were studied by Allied and Soviet engineers.
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