Nearly 80 years after its last appearance in UK skies, this summer saw the legendary Messerschmitt Me262, the world's first operational jet fighter take part in the Royal International Air Tattoo and meet former foes at RAF Coningsby - including 102-year old RAF Mosquito pilot Colin Bell. CHARLOTTE BAILEY gets up close with the 'Stormbird'.
The sleek, squat, oddly shark-like countenance crouching on the apron at RAF Coningsby – barely reaching the noses of the Eurofighter Typhoons taxiing past - may ‘only’ be a replica, but judging from the unrivalled enthusiasm that greeted the first-generation German jet at RIAT this year, this only airworthy example is every bit as worthy of respect as its legendary forebears. Owned and operated by the Messerschmitt Museum of Flight in Manching, Bavaria, the Me262’s UK visit was made possible through the support of the Airbus Heritage Team; headed by Jeremy Greaves, VP Strategy and Corporate Affairs and responsible for Airbus’ UK Heritage involvement.
'A quantum jump in fighter performance'
The Typhoon noise overhead paused just long enough for the two GE CJ610 turbojet engines to roar into life. (Charlotte Bailey)
Certainly, watching BBMF crew marshal in the first in-series production jet – estimated to have downed between 300 and 450 Allied aircraft during World War 2 for the loss of around 100 of its own – was a historic moment in its own right. After making its first jet-powered flight in July 1942, the Me262 became operational with the Luftwaffe in 1944 and was later described by Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown as representing a “quantum jump in fighter performance”. Despite being impacted by political interference and raw material shortages, production ploughed on – often dispersed to low-profile facilities such as underground tunnels or forest clearings – with a total of 1,433 airframes delivered.
Perhaps better known to the British as the ‘Schwalbe’ (‘Swallow’) or fighter-bomber ‘Sturmvogel’ (‘Storm Bird), the type was codenamed the ‘Silber’ (‘Silver’) in Germany, explained historian Uli Willbond; with airfields possessing the requisite long concrete runways designated ‘Silberplatze’. Despite Messerschmitt advising at least ten hours’ flight training time, conversion consisted of a cockpit run-through with an engineer before pilots were deemed combat-ready after just two flights. Crikey. Also overlooked was Messerschmitt’s recommendation of another 100 hours’ training on the incredibly sensitive Junkers Jumo 004B engines (incidentally started with the pull of a rope), responsible for 40% of all non-combat-related losses and which, owing to metallurgy complications, only offered an optimistic 25 hours’ life.
Although ten original static Me262s survive, a 1993 initiative sought to recreate five airframes, of which D-IMTT is currently the only example flying. Thankfully this American-built replica, based at Manching since its delivery in 2006, features neither the wooden wing once proposed (which never entered production) nor the original powerplants; opting for two GE CJ610 turbojet engines cleverly concealed inside the original nacelles. In fact, D-IMTT features over 180 modifications (including upgraded brakes) and despite being delivered with Experimental FAA certification is maintained to EASA CS-23 certification requirements all the same. These – combined with test pilot Geri Kraehenbuehl’s wealth of experience on the type (approaching 130 hours since 2010) – are invaluable in ensuring safe operations.
If looks could kill...
The shark-like profile of the aircraft is just wide enough for both main wheels to retract into the body of the fuselage. (Charlotte Bailey)
“I’d describe it as like dancing with a beautiful woman,” Kraehenbuehl elaborated to AEROSPACE. “Everything is fine until one of you steps on the other’s toes”. The small tail and ailerons do not make for harmonised controls, and with no yaw damping, the aircraft is prone to experiencing Dutch roll. Inside the cockpit, the controls have been kept as authentic as possible, save the addition of a FLARM and a transponder. Navigation is carried out via a kneeboard; essential planning for the route over, which comprised stops in Luxembourg, Belgium, France and finally the UK.
The biggest challenge of the transit across was finding suitable airports, elaborates Matthias Kobler, qualified engineer and head of the Messerschmitt Museum of Flight. As many British vintage jet operators (such as the de Havilland Vampire) well know, the number of suitable facilities to land or even divert to in the UK has shrunken exponentially over the preceding decades. For the 262, the requirement for a NATO-standard 2,000m long runway is also dictated by the type’s take-off performance: Kraehenbuehl explaining that although the aircraft wants to fly at 110kts, the risk of losing an engine necessitates achieving at least 142 knots before getting airborne.
Mosquito pilot reunited with the most dangerous enemy
Left to right : OC BBMF Squadron Leader Mark Sugden, Flight Lieutenant Colin Bell and pilot Geri Kraehenbuehl (Charlotte Bailey)
The day held a particular poignancy for one esteemed guest: 102 year old Flight Lieutenant Colin Bell DFC, de Havilland Mosquito Pilot who served with No. 608 (North Riding) Squadron. He flew 150 operations over Germany (including 15 over Berlin) and is the last known survivor to have engaged the Me 262 in combat. Although his navigator wasn’t initially convinced the type on their tail was indeed a 262, Bell joked: “Do you want me to hang around and find out?” Realizing his assailant had locked onto his radar at 25,000ft, Bell explained: “You had to act immediately – if [the enemy] got a visual on you, you were dead”. Elaborating on how the four 30mm cannon could “turn you to confetti in a single blast,” he dropped down to 10,000ft and performed a series of manoeuvres, aware of the 262’s limited duration of 45 minutes total flight time – living to fight another day.
Describing the “prickles up the back of [his] neck” upon meeting the Me 262 up close in the BBMF hangar some 78 years later, Bell explained how he walked up to the aircraft before patting it on one side and added: “Now I hope I never see the damn thing again!” – before extending his gratitude to the crew of the Me 262 who, judging by the camaraderie in the bar of Petwood House the night before, had already forged a firm friendship.
Living history in the skies
A unique formation saw the Me262 fly in formation with RAF BBMF Spitfires and a P-51 Mustang. (BBMF)
Following a iconic formation flypast of RAF Coningsby with a Mk XIX Spitfire, Mk V Spitfire and P-51 Mustang, the Me 262 later departed home to Manching. As Matthias Kobler explained, the museum’s aim to keep as many of its aircraft in airworthy condition as possible is essential for people to “feel, hear, smell and see aircraft in their natural element: the air”. A collaboration between the Messerschmitt Foundation and Airbus (the latter of whom have helped enable nearly 50 vintage aircraft to remain airworthy), Jeremy Greaves concluded that projects like these are a “fabulous way of creating emotion” and a vital part of connecting aviation’s past, present and future.
The entire team involved in bringing the Me262 across for its long-anticipated UK visit. (Charlotte Bailey)