FW-190

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

So... the FW-190 was quite effective; arguably in some respects the equal or even superior to the Spitfire and P-51.  In some respects.

                                

And how could this be?  Why... 'cuz it had the BMW 801 Kommandogerät~!  

 

Basically, a primitive (but advanced for the time) mechanical-hydraulic computer, that made "one lever" control possible.  This allowed the the pilot to focus on flying and fighting.  By comparison, while flying, the Spitfire driver had to also constantly monitor RPM, manifold pressure, mixture, cylinder head temp, prop pitch, and more. 

 

Clever people, them Germans!                                         

(Undoubtedly inspired by one Mr R. Goldberg hisself)           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dr. Zook]

Wow,  that's quite an interesting story about this engine- thank you for posting it... an irony that i discovered reading about the BMW 801 engine was that it's roots were started in the USA with the Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet radial engine which was produced under a license purchased by BMW from Pratt & Whitney.

[Subdeacon Joe]

 

 

 

[Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062]

Fw190 and Me262 were the only German fighters faster than the DeHavilland Mosquito

[Trailrider #896]

When I attended AFROTC summer camp in 1964, the commandant was LTC V.P. Gordon, who showed us films from his gun cameras in a P-51. He took out a bunch of FW-190's in the course of a few seconds! Of course the FW's were neatly parked on the ground, and he was "down in the weeds" straffing them.