A study of the
world’s first rocket-powered fighter, the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet. Developed
from the tail-less aircraft studies by Alexander Lippisch in the 1930s, the
Me163 was intended purely as a research aircraft, but its spectacular high speed
attracted military attention and the design was reworked as an interceptor
fighter, the Me163B. Put into limited production and service, the Komet proved
as dangerous to its pilots as to the bombers it was attacking, and it had little
effective impact on the air war. Post-war the design was studied in detail by
all the victorious Allies, and had a significant influence on high-speed
aircraft designs on both sides of the Iron Curtain. In part because of this
several airframes survive, and the book includes details of all of these, plus
close-up photos of many of them, covering all aspects of the airframe and
systems. The story of the design, development and operations of the Me163 is
told, illustrated by many photos, scale plans, and colour profiles showing the
colours and markings of test and operational aircraft. 1/72 and 1/48 scale
plans. An invaluable reference source for aircraft historians, modellers and
enthusiasts.
