Specifications for He 280 V3
Engine: 2x Heinkel He S 8 A centrifugal turbojets
Wing Span: 12.20 m
Length: 10.40 m
Height: 3.06 m
Weight: Empty 3,215 kg / Loaded 4,280 kg
Maximum Speed: 650 km/h
Ceiling: 10.000 m
Range: 370 km
Crew: 1
Armament: None (production model 3x 20mm cannons)
History:
The world's first jet powered production fighter, the He 280 was unique in many ways, It was the first twin-jet engined aircraft, the first jet aircraft to go beyond prototype stage, the first fitted with the world's first ejection seat and first to have one used*! Designed by Robert Lusser in 1939 ,it had it's first flight without the jet engines on the 22/9/1940 and with them fitted and working on the 30/3/1941. All together only nine He 280 were ever made out of an order from the RLM for 20 aircraft. *On the 31/1/1943 Fritz Schafer catapulted from the He 280 V1, he landed uninjured but the aircraft was lost.