Blohm and Voss BV 141 - rare film

In 1937, the German Air Ministry - the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) - issued a specification for a single-engine reconnaissance aircraft with optimum visual characteristics. The preferred contractors were Arado, but the request prompted the Focke-Wulf company to work up the alternative idea of the Focke-Wulf Fw 189, a twin-boom design with two smaller engines and a central crew gondola, while Blohm & Voss proposed something far more radical. The proposal of chief designer Dr. Richard Vogt was the unique asymmetric BV 141.

The perspex-glazed crew gondola on the starboard side strongly resembled that found on the Fw 189, and housed the pilot, observer and rear gunner, while the fuselage on the port side led smoothly from the 746 kW (1,000 hp) Bramo 123 radial engine to a tail unit (which was symmetrical in the BV 141 V1 prototype).

It would seem that the displacement of lift vs weight, and thrust vs drag, would have induced tendencies to yaw and roll requiring continual trimming to control, but the aircraft proved very stable and maneuverable. Indeed, Dr. Vogt had calculated that the greater weight on one side of the aircraft could be cancelled out by the torque of the propeller.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• german fighters
• luftwaffe planes
• german planes
• ww2 aircraft
• aircraft
• world war two
• luftwaffe fighters
• air wars
• air combat
• enemy planes
• warbirds
• aircraft of war
• yt:crop=16:9

[DosGaming101]

Zieg Hei-*CRASH* !!!!

[videosvoladores13]

great video, and great odd lookingplane, looking forward to building one for R/C, what is interesting is that in this video the elevator seems to be symetrical, whilein the pictures that I have seen it is not; Strange.

Also, I have investigated that the center of gravity is right where the cockpit is.

Regards!

[Jesse2K12]

What documentary is this from?

[ProjectFlashlight612]

Actually, it DID enter service....well, sort of. Five or six of the pre-production prototypes, enough to make up one small squadron in any case, underwent operational trialson the Eastern Front late in 1941. The FW 189 had already been picked as the winner of the recon plane contest in any case, and the modified 141s were underpowered and shook like jellies when in the air, so they really were not good enough to use. The prototypes flew flawlessly, oddly enough.

[greenseaships]

@TheFunkadelicFan

I'll say! Just look at that Volkswaffe! ;)

[greenseaships]

What's the great advantage of giving the pilot such great visibility from the cockpit if his view to the left is blocked by that huge engine?

[carmium]

I wonder if the center of rotation was along the engine/fuselage? You'd think so because of the weight. Can you imagine banking left and swinging upwards, or to the right and dropping down? It must have taken some getting used to.

[1959Edsel]

It's almost like an aerial motorcycle and sidecar, except that it's being controlled from the sidecar.

[TheFunkadelicFan]

Those crazy Germans!

[Tubes12AX7k]

From what I recall, 7 were up and flying and approximately 20 were in progress by War's end. Interesting plane, I think it's quite cool, but mostly to prove a concept. The plane "works out" because the cockpit's location on the right wing counteracts both engine torque AND p-factor when the plane is climbing, which oddly enough, makes it kind of "symmetric" on the yoke and rudder. But I'm sure it would have some oddball tendencies during stall, spin, or basic turns in the traffic pattern.