The jet-powered Me 262 Sturmvogel ("Stormbird") has long since gained its place in the annals of international aeronautical history. With its sleek aerodynamic design and high performance jet engines, the Me 262 radically changed the way in which air combat was waged.

The first design work on the Me 262 began in October 1938, with the first test flight, piloted by Fritz Wendel, occuring on April 18th, 1942. Tests continued well into 1942, although by this time the Me 262 was outfitted with two highly-efficient BMW turbojet engines. When he saw the aircraft for the first time in early 1943, Hitler insisted that the plane be designed as a low-level bomber instead of a fighter, which undermined the sleek aerodynamic properties of the jet aircraft. After much in-fighting among the Luftwaffe's upper echelons, the plane was eventually converted back into a high level interceptor, with series production beginning in the spring of 1944. The first jet fighter unit, commanded by Major Walter Nowotny, was formed in the summer of 1944 and was composed of many of the Luftwaffe's leading aces.

By war's end, 1,433 Me 262s had been produced, far too few a number to have much of an impact on the Allies strategic bombing campaign. In the end, the Allies' superiority in numbers overcame the tremendous technical achievements ushered in by the Me 262 program.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a German Messerschmitt Me-262B jet fighter that was attached to 1./KG (J) 53, then operating out of Germany during 1944. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 6-3/4-inches
Length: 5-3/4-inches

Release Date: February 2010

Historical Account: "Training Wheels" - The Me 262B-1a was the 2 seat trainer version of the single seat Me 262 jet fighter that entered service with the Luftwaffe in 1944.

Development of a training variant became an urgent requirement due to the high number of accidents suffered by Me 262 units, most of which were caused by technical problems arising from the newly developed turbojet engines or as a result of undercarriage malfunctions.

To help familiarise Me 262 pilots with the new jet aircraft, the cockpit area of the single seater was re-designed in order to accommodate an instructor in a tandem seating arrangement. This required the removal of an internal fuel tank so provision was made for two 66 gallon auxiliary tanks to be carried beneath the forward area of the fuselage.

The standard armament fit of 4 x 30mm cannon in the nose was retained. Only 15 examples of the Me 262B-1a trainer had been produced by the end of World War 2, although its design concept was instrumental in the development of the Me 262B-1a/U1 night fighter.