The FW-187 was one of the firsts designs where Kurt Tank was the main designer. It was designed to carry two DB600 engines, but lack of them forced Tank to fit it with much less powerful engines.
This plane with 2 700hp engines did really perform very good compared with both Bf109E and Me110C, both of them with DB601 engines (1200 hp aprox). Go figure how it would have performed with the engines it was designed to carry.
The RLM (much to Milch's displeasure) was very happy with the Me110 and Bf109. The Fw187 was never given clearance for production, the RLM wanted the 110 and future 210.
Another stupid decision by the German burocracy...imagine this same plane with DB605D engines!! (DROOL)
[edit] BTW it was an early war plane, and indeed the Fw187 A-0s actually built were kept for factory protecting duties. Some may have seen actual combat but I'm not sure of that.
Scanner still not working
if not I'd post here the info I have on this amazing plane
[edit again]
Checking my sources, I found out that the Fw187V6 actually received two DB600 engines, rated at 1000hp each. THe friggin plane achieved 396mph at level flight.
That was in 14-May-1938. SO, excuse me...but the Mosquito and Beaufighters WERE 187 wanabees
BTW this plane actually saw combat service, with 13/Jg77 in 1940 (norway). It then served in Bremen for factory protection duties on the FW factory there. Finally they were adapted (and used) for night fighting.
So, saw real combat
for an early war planeset...would be nice!!!!
[This message has been edited by RAM (edited 01-12-2001).]
