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Messerschmitt Me-262 Rare Types

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This package contains some of the rarer and more exotic variants of the famous Me-262 jet fighter of WWII:

1. Me-262B-1a/U1 Two-seat Nightfighter
2. Me-262A-1a/U4 "Pulkzerstörer" with 50 mm Cannon
3. Me-262A-4a/U3 Reconnaissance

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History of the aircraft in this package:

(For a general history of the Me-262 aircraft, please read the history section here.)

- Me-262B-1a/U1 Two-seat Nightfighter

Five two-seat trainer variants of the Me 262, the Me 262 B-1a were adapted as night fighters, complete with on-board FuG 218 Neptun radar and Hirschgeweih ("stag's antlers") antenna, as the B-1a/U1 version. Serving with 10 Staffel, Nachtjagdgeschwader 11, near Berlin, these few aircraft (alongside several single-seat examples) accounted for most of the 13 Mosquitoes lost over Berlin in the first three months of 1945. However, actual intercepts were generally or entirely made using standard German nightfighter "Wilde Sau" methods, rather than radar-controlled interception.

'Red 12', wk/nr 111980, was surrendered to Allied forces in 1945. This particular aircraft does not appear to have had any equipment installed in the upper part of the canopy, unlike some of the others of  its type. The aircraft was destroyed in a gale at RAF Brize Norton in the UK, in 1947.

Extensive research was undertaken to portray this extraordinary aircraft's front and rear cockpits as authentically as possible.

- Me-262A-1a/U4 "Pulkzerstörer"

Only 2 prototypes of this model were constructed and flown, featuring the 50 mm Rheinmetall-Borsig Mk 214 cannon, with the overall package being designed by Mauser.

This large weapon took up the entire nose section, requiring that the design of the nose gear be modified to rotate 90° during retraction, which enabled the wheel to lie flat as opposed to the usual configuration. A revised wheel well door arrangement was also created to deal with the new layout.

The fitting of the Mk214 to the Me 262 was an effort to create an effective bomber-killer that could attack enemy formations from long range without being subjected to the bomber's defensive fire. The gun fired 1.5-kg shells at a muzzle velocity of 1100 meters/second, with the 2400kg recoil of the weapon being absorbed by a hydraulic damper. It was estimated that a single hit would be sufficient to cripple an Allied bomber. This development was designated the Me262A-1/U4 and was known as the "Pulkzerstörer" (formation or pack destroyer).

During testing the cannon operated without problem, but during the only 2 operational flights made by the aircraft on the 16 April, 1945, the cannon jammed.

- Me-262A-4a/U3 Reconnaissance

This was the reconnaissance version of the Me-262, being standard fighters modified in small numbers, with Reihenbilder RB 20/30 cameras mounted in the nose (sometimes one RB 20/20 and one RB 75/30). Some retained one 30 mm (1.18 in) cannon, but most were unarmed.

 

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Exterior: (click to view pictures full size; for additional airframe details, please see the Me-262 package here)

                    

                          

      

VC:

                         

          

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Features:


  • Highly accurate VCs, each different, individually modeled after photos of those in existing period aircraft;
    2 different types of artificial horizon, each modeled in 3D (including turnable locking rings);
    2 different types of Vertical Speed Indicator modeled in 3D;
    Luminescent gauge dials for night flying, just like the original;
    Cabin Ventilation lever that opens visible air scoop;
    Revi16B gunsight that folds accurately out of the way;
    Revi16B can be turned on and off;
    Revi16B tinted glass can be realistically folded out of the way;
    Nightfighter has red gunsight reticule, like the original;
    Working trigger guard and trigger on control stick;
    Accurate and working systems buttons on panel;
    Fully clickable and workable cockpits overall (except Nightfighter rear cockpit, which is limited);
    Five different models;
    Four different textures;
    Bump mapping in selected areas;
    Carefully researched textures, including help from a major museum;
    Accurately landing gear sequence (e.g. on approach: main wheels first, them front gear);
    Accurate Luftwaffe pilot flight suit, flight helmet and oxygen mask;
    Turn on the oxygen system and the pilot puts on his mask;
    Animated pilots;
    Exhaust cones that move with throttle setting, just like the original Jumo 004's;
    Full flight operations manual, accurate and derived from the original;
    Written history of all the aircraft depicted.
     

Please note:


The Nightfighter does not have an operational radar. We would have liked to have had one, but no such gauge exists presently, and it was outside our capacities to create something so sophisticated. However, there is a gauge poly there, so that should anyone find a suitable gauge, it can be easily installed (contact support if help is needed).
The Nightfighter has a visible pilot head (only) in the front VC cockpit, to enhance realism when the user is sitting in the rear seat. If you would like to fly the Nightfighter from the front seat, the pilot head can be removed with a simple click on one of the canopy bolts (see illustration in the Manual).
For those users who prefer historically accurate fin textures, the replacement textures can be downloaded here.

The lowest-performance computer this product was tested on was a P35, E6600, ATI HD3850. There were no reported performance problems.

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