Blohm + Voss BV 142
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The airplane Blohm + Voss BV 142 was at first a civil development for the air transatlantic postal service, and was originally aimed for Lufthansa. The first flight took place on October 11, 1938. This plane had four engines, low wing, high horizontal stabilizer and double vertical tail, on the basis of the seaplane Blohm & Voss Ha 139.
Construction
The aircraft possessed the characteristic three-part composed wing. The central and main wing was strengthened by the typical Blohm & Voss cross-girder, which consisted of a large diameter pipe. This transverse tube also contained the fuel, inside five inner divisions. The center wing piece was metal covered, while the outerwings were covered with fabric. There were six hydraulically operated flaps in the middle wing piece.The fuselage was completely metallic and had an approximately round cross section.
The main landing gear was doubled-geared and fully retractable, as well as the tail landing gear. The landing gear was hydraulically lowered and retracted.
History
Only four prototypes were built. These aircraft were tested by Lufthansa and used in the postal service. However the outbreak of the Second World War prevented the further development of the civilian project.The first prototype was re-equipped for the sea-reconnaissance duty. The fuselage nose was extended and glassed, just like the He 111-H6. Armament was mounted in the nose, in the fuselage floor and on the fuselage upper surface. It was operational by the autumn of 1940 and was posted to the Luftwaffe's second surveillance Group. This unit was assigned to the operations staff of the Luftfotte III in France. However, its performace was not satisfactory, and therefore it was not further developed nor posted everywhere else.
The two other planes were used as transport aircraft for the occupation of Denmark and in the Norway campaign with the KGr.z.b.V 105 (combat team for special use) and could transport 30 fully equipped soldiers over 4000 km.
In the long run all aircraft were superseded by 1942, but one of these machines flew probably until 1949.
Technical data of the BV 142 after its change into the sea-reconnaissance version
- Total length: 20.45 m
- Height: 4.44 m
- Span: 29.53 m
- Wing area: 130 m²
- Maximum takeoff weight : 16,500 kg
- Empty weight: 11,000 kg
- Maximum speed: 375 km/h
- Landing speed: 100 km/h
- Optimal cruising speed: 325 km/h
- Maximum climbing rate at ground level: 6.70 m/s
- Service ceiling: 9,000 m
- Range: 3,900 km
- Fuel capacity: 6,560 l in the tubing cross-beam
- Lubricant capacity: 600 l
- Engines: 4 BMWS 132H1 9 Cylinder radial engines up to 880 HP of take-off power
- Propellers: 3.50 m diameter, 3 blades, metal, adjustable
- Crew members: 5
- Armament: 5 MG 15 and four 100 kg bombs or eight 50 kg bombs
See also
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