Gotha Go 244

The Gotha Go 244 was a transport aircraft used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

Development

The Go 244 was the powered version of the Gotha Go 242 transport glider.

After the fall of France, the German army came across large stockpiles of the Gnome-Rhône 14M radial engines, rated at 700 takeoff horsepower. It was decided to use these engines to modify Go 242 gliders; the modification also added a tricycle undercarriage. They hoped that by doing this they would be able to increase the performance as well as operational versatility, but the Gnome engines proved to be underpowered.

After the invasion of Russia in June 1941, the Germans captured large stockpiles of Shvetsov M-25A radial engines, rated at 700 - 800 takeoff horsepower, depending on model, but they proved to be just as underpowered as the French engines. The A series of the Go 244 were prototypes and some were powered by BMW 132 radial engines, rated at 960 takeoff horsepower. The B series was the main production model. 43 were built as full production models and 133 were converted from Go 242B. Plans were also created for single-engined variants with a nose-mounted Argus A 10C or Junkers Jumo 211.cite book | last = Bishop | first = Chris | authorlink = | coauthors = Roger Ford | title = The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II | publisher = Sterling | date = 2002 | location = | pages = p. 408 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 1586637622]

Operational history

The first examples of the Go 244 were delivered to operational units in Greece and Crete in March 1942. Some were also assigned to transport "Geschwader" in North Africa and the Eastern Front but on the former front they proved vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire and were withdrawn, being replaced by Junkers Ju 52 or Messerschmitt Me 323 aircraft.

Variants

* Go 244A-1 - prototype, using the BMW 132 radial engine
* Go 244B-1 - production version, with fixed landing gear
* Go 244B-2 - B-1 with improved landing gear including a larger semi-retractable nose wheel
* Go 242B-3 - paratroop-carrying version of B-1 with double rear doors
* Go 244B-4 - paratroop-carrying version of B-2 with doors of B-3 and landing gear of B-2
* Go 244B-5 - training version with dual controls

pecifications (Go 244B-2)

aircraft specifications/switch
plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?= prop
ref=
crew=one or two pilots
capacity=up to 23 troops or freight
length main= 51 ft 10 in
length alt= 15.80 m
span main= 80 ft 5 in
span alt= 24.50 m
height main= 15 ft 1 in
height alt= 4.60 m
area main=693 ft²
area alt=64.4 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main=11,517 lb
empty weight alt=5,225 kg
loaded weight main= lb
loaded weight alt= kg
useful load main= lb
useful load alt= kg
max takeoff weight main=17,196 lb
max takeoff weight alt=7,800 kg
more general=
* Aspect ratio: 16:1
engine (prop)=
type of prop=
number of props=
power main=
power alt=
power original=
max speed main= 156.5 knots
max speed alt= 180 mph, 290 km/h
cruise speed main= 145 knots
cruise speed alt= 168 mph, 270 km/h at 3,900 m (12,795 ft)
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= nm
range alt=460 mi, 740 km
ceiling main=25,100 ft
ceiling alt=7,650 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
* 4 × 7.92 mm MG 15 machine guns
avionics=

Notes

ee also

aircontent
related=
*Go 242
similar aircraft=
*Fairchild C 82 packet
lists=
*List of World War II military aircraft of Germany
*List of military aircraft of Germany
see also=