The Messerschmitt Bf 161 was a 1930s
prototype German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
reconnaissance aircraft.
Development
The Bf 161 was a specialised reconnaissance aircraft, based on the
Bf 110
The Messerschmitt Bf 110, often known unofficially as the Me 110,Because it was built before ''Bayerische Flugzeugwerke'' became Messerschmitt AG in July 1938, the Bf 110 was never officially given the designation Me 110. is a twin-engine (Des ...
, and similar to the
Bf 162, designed as a
light bomber. The prototype ''V1'' was powered by two
Junkers Jumo 210 inline engines and first flew on 9 March 1938. It was followed by a second prototype, ''V2'', powered by two
Daimler-Benz DB 600
The Daimler-Benz DB 600 was a German aircraft engine designed and built before World War II as part of a new generation of German engine technology. It was a liquid-cooled inverted V12 engine, and powered the Messerschmitt Bf 110 and Heinkel He ...
a engines which first flew on 30 August 1938.
The aircraft did not enter production, as it was soon decided that a new aircraft type was not needed, and variants of the Bf 110 could perform the reconnaissance role.
Operational history
The two prototypes were used for research and development, and V2 was used in Augsburg for towing the
Me 163A ''Komet'', later moving to
Peenemünde
Peenemünde (, en, " Peene iverMouth") is a municipality on the Baltic Sea island of Usedom in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is part of the ''Amt'' (collective municipality) of Usedom-Nord. The commu ...
to continue towing.
Specifications (Bf 161 V1)
See also
References
*
External links
German Aviation 1919 - 1945
{{RLM aircraft designations
Bf 161
1930s German military reconnaissance aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1938
Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft
Twin-tail aircraft