Focke-Wulf Fw 57

The Focke-Wulf Fw 57 was a prototype German fighter-bomber. It was built in 1936 but never saw production.

Design and development

In 1934 the Reich Air Ministry (RLM) declared a requirement for a "Kampfzerstorer" (Bomber destroyer), a tactical multi-role fighter/bomber. Focke-Wulf submitted the Fw 57, Messerschmitt submitted the Bf 110 and Henschel submitted the Hs 124. The Fw 57 was larger than its two competitors; it was heavier than and did not handle as well as the others.

The Fw 57 was a two-engine all-metal monoplane of conventional configuration, with a single fin and retractable tailwheel undercarriage. The pilot and navigator sit in tandem under a long canopy, the aft end of which consists of a gunner turret.

Three Fw 57 prototypes (V1-V3) were completed during 1936 but the "kampfzerstorer" requirement was superseded by the "zerstorer" and the Bf 110 proved to be the winner. All further research into the Fw 57 was abandoned and dropped shortly thereafter.

pecifications (Fw 57 V1)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=
crew=3 (pilot, navigator and gunner)
capacity=
payload main=
payload alt=
length main= 16.57 m
length alt= 54 ft 4 in
span main= 25 m
span alt= 82 ft
height main= 4.08 m
height alt= 13 ft 5 in
area main= 73.5 m²
area alt= 791.17 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 6,800 kg
empty weight alt= 14,991 lb
loaded weight main= 8,300 kg
loaded weight alt= 18,298 lb
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (prop)= Daimler-Benz DB 600A
type of prop=inverted V12 engine
number of props=2
power main= 910 hp
power alt= 679 kW
power original=
max speed main=404 km/h
max speed alt= 251 mph
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main= 9,100 m
ceiling alt= 29,855 ft
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
* 3 × 20 mm MG FF cannon (2 in the nose and 1 in a Mauser electric dorsal turret)
* 6 x 100 kg (220 lb) of bombs
avionics=

References

* [http://www.luftwaffe-reich.co.uk/focke-wulf-fw-57-fighter.htm Picture and specifications of Fw 57]