Back in the 1930s, aircraft designers realized that the glider with a straight wing has a high resistance, so as the engine power increases, sooner or later the speed limit will be reached. While the industry produced low-speed propeller aircraft, this problem was not particularly relevant. But with the advent of jet technology, engineers had to find the best solution to reduce air resistance. In 1943, Junkers proposed a version of the unusual jet bomber with a reverse swept wing – Junkers Ju-287. The new type of wing was characterized by increased aerodynamic efficiency, improved handling at low flight speeds. In addition, it was possible to reduce the takeoff speed and range of the aircraft due to the fact that the lifting force of such a wing is greater at large angles of attack.

The Ju-287 is equipped with four Junkers Jumo 004B-1 turbojet engines. During test flights in August 1944, the aircraft showed excellent performance and became one of the most innovative aircraft of the Second World War. By March 1945, 2 such devices were released, but all of them remained at the stage of prototypes, did not participate in hostilities.

However, the idea of ​​a reverse swept wing has not been forgotten. In 1984, the Northrop Grumman X-29 aircraft with this wing was built in the United States. And in September 1997 the flight of the experimental fighter Su-47 “Golden eagle” took place. In addition, back in 1964, the first flight of a passenger plane with a reverse swept wing HFB-320 Hansa Jet (Germany). In series, it was launched in 1966, but a couple of years later it was discontinued.

Technical characteristics of Junkers Ju-287:

Wing area: 61 sq. m
Weight of the aircraft empty: 12,500 kg, takeoff: 20,000 kg
Top speed: 558 km / h at 6000 m
Practical ceiling: 9400 m
Lifting speed: 580 m / min
Crew: 2 people.

Thanks to the tandem layout of the engines, the German Do-335 Pfeil (“Arrow”) can be called the most unusual propeller of the 1940s. In addition, it is also the fastest piston aircraft in the history of aviation – at an altitude of 3000 m, it developed a speed of up to 785 km / h, and a practical “ceiling” reached 11,400 m.

The construction of the aircraft was all-metal, except for the front edges, made of wood. In addition to the traditional front engine with a propeller behind the cockpit was a second engine with an elongated shaft and a propeller, which was behind the tail.

The tandem scheme of engines differed in the minimum aerodynamic resistance, but at the same time all advantages of the twin-engine plane, including a big stock of power and safety remained. After all, in case of failure of one engine, it was possible to continue the flight on the other without any problems – the thrust vectors of both engines coincided. There was even the possibility of economy mode with only one engine running. In the case of shutdown of the bow engine, the speed of the aircraft still remained significant – up to 557 km / h.

The design of the Do-335 was completed in 1942, and the first flight took place on October 26, 1943. By the end of the war, the Germans had managed to collect only 37 “arrows”, and they did not take an active part in hostilities. Although the aircraft was very progressive for its time, after the war, the unique technology developed by the Germans in tandem scheme was not used as the era of propeller aviation came to an end.

Technical characteristics of Do-335A-1:

Weight of the aircraft empty: 7266 kg, takeoff: 9600 kg
Engines: 2 x Daimler-Benz DB 603E-1, power 2x1800 (1900) hp
Top speed: 785 km / h, cruising: 682 km / h
Practical range at cruising speed: 1390 km
Practical ceiling: 11, 400 m
Crew: 1 person