Messerschmitt P.1101
Messerschmitt · Germany · first flew 1945 · fighter
The Messerschmitt P.1101 was a German experimental jet fighter prototype with a variable-sweep wing, found incomplete at war's end and later shipped to the United States. It directly influenced post-war American variable-geometry aircraft research.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Single Heinkel HeS 011 turbojet in fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Variable-sweep wing prototype captured at end of WWII
- Single Heinkel HeS 011 turbojet in fuselage
- Influenced post-war Bell X-5 variable-sweep research
A compact swept-wing single-engine jet with a nose intake and cruciform tail; the angular swept wing and slender fuselage foreshadow post-war swept-wing fighters.
Specifications
- The Messerschmitt P.1101 has a length of 9.18 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.25 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 980 km/h (609 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Development began in 1944 at the Oberammergau research facility. The wing sweep could be adjusted on the ground between 35° and 45° to study aerodynamic effects, though the aircraft was not designed for in-flight sweep changes. Discovered nearly complete by Allied forces in 1945, it was shipped to Bell Aircraft where it inspired the Bell X-5, the first aircraft capable of changing wing sweep in flight.
Variants
A single incomplete prototype only; no production variant was developed.
Where you'll see it
The P.1101 never flew in German hands; it was completed and evaluated in the USA after the war.
Related aircraft
- Messerschmitt Me 263
- Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-10
- Messerschmitt Bf 109 K-4
- Messerschmitt Bf 109K
- Arsenal VB 10
- Bachem Ba 349 Natter
- Bell XP-83
- Convair XP-81
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