Gotha Go 242
| Gotha Go 242 | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Glider |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
1941 |
| Commissioning: |
August 1941 |
| Production time: |
1941-1944 |
| Number of pieces: |
1481 |
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The Gotha Go 242 was a German military glider of the Second World War .
construction
At the beginning of the war, the Gothaer Waggonfabrik was awarded the contract to develop a glider. The Go 242 was developed under the direction of Albert Kalkert and produced from 1941.
The glider was constructed as a stripped shoulder- wing decker in composite construction. The wings were made of wood and the fuselage was made of tubular steel, both of which were covered with fabric. The tail unit was attached to the wings with two tail unit supports. 23 fully equipped soldiers or an adequate cargo could be carried as a load. Entrances were on the left side of the fuselage and on the fold-up stern.
production
Series production of the Go 242 started in mid-1941, and the first aircraft were delivered in August 1941. The last deliveries were made in July 1944. In addition to the Gothaer Waggonfabrik (GWF), the Robert Hartwig wood goods and toy factory in Sonneberg (Thuringia) also manufactured the sailor.
Construction figures for the Go 242 up to November 30, 1944 :
| version | GWF | Hartwig | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-0 | 45 | 45 | |
| A-1 | 800 | 405 | 1205 |
| B-2 | 188 | 188 | |
| C-1 | 43 | 43 | |
| TOTAL | 845 | 636 | 1481 |
Series
- Go 242 A: equipped with landing skids and a chassis that can be dropped after take-off
- Go 242 B: with a normal three-wheel chassis
- Go 242 C: with a buoyant hull for special operations
- with an Argus As 10 C engine to extend the range that can be achieved in gliding flight, was dropped in favor of the Gotha Go 244
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data Gotha Go 242 B |
|---|---|
| crew | 1-2 |
| Passengers | 23 fully equipped soldiers |
| length | 15.8 m |
| span | 24.5 m |
| height | 4.4 m |
| Wing area | 64.40 m² |
| Wing extension | 9.3 |
| Glide ratio | 15th |
| Slightest sinking | ? m / s at? km / h |
| Empty mass | 3200 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 7100 kg |
| Towing speed | 240 km / h |
| Top speed | |
| Armament |
