Komet

E78697

Komet was the nickname of the Messerschmitt Me 163, a German World War II rocket-powered interceptor aircraft known for its extraordinary speed and unconventional design.


Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf military aircraft nickname
rocket-powered interceptor aircraft
aircraftFamily Messerschmitt Me 163 series
aircraftType single-seat interceptor
airForceBranch German Luftwaffe
armament 30 mm MK 108 cannon
category experimental aircraft
interceptor aircraft
rocket-powered aircraft
conflict World War II
countryOfOrigin Nazi Germany
crew 1
designer Alexander Lippisch
era 1940s
firstFlight 1941
fuelType C-Stoff fuel
T-Stoff oxidizer
historicalSignificance first operational rocket-powered fighter aircraft
landingGear retractable skid
legacy influenced postwar high-speed aircraft research
manufacturer Messerschmitt AG
maximumSpeed over 590 mph
over 950 km/h
meaningOfName Comet in English
nicknameLanguage German
notableFeature extraordinary speed
retractable landing skid
tailless swept-wing configuration
unconventional design
use of volatile rocket propellants
operationalIssues dangerous fuel handling
high accident rate
short powered flight duration
operationalTheater European theater of World War II
powerplant Walter HWK 109-509 rocket engine
primaryMission defense against Allied bombers
productionPeriod early 1940s
propulsion rocket-powered
refersTo Messerschmitt Me 163
riskFactor corrosive and unstable propellants
role interceptor
serviceEntry 1944
status retired
tailConfiguration tailless
usedAgainst Allied bomber formations
usedBy Luftwaffe
wingConfiguration swept wing

Referenced by (2)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Messerschmitt Me 163
NATOReportingName
Messerschmitt Me 163
nickname

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