MESSERSCHMITT Me163 KOMET

Title: Messerschmitt Me163 Komet

The Me163 was the world’s first and only operational rocket-powered fighter, and first flew in 1941. The spectacular performance the protype demonstrated led to it quickly being optimised for mass production and the introduction of the type across Germany as a point-defence aircraft.

However only 370 examples had been built by the end of WW2, and although most of these were used operationally the aircraft never had the success it apparently promised due to several significant shortcomings. The aircraft had only a very short time on station being capable of only seven minutes of powered flight. In addition the rocket fuel used was both highly volatile and corrosive, and hazardous to be around. The type was also tricky to fly which resulted in numerous fatalities during testing and training flights.

This title includes the German pilot’s manual and six sections from the maintenance manual for the Me163B. The files have been scanned from the original flight manuals and retain any colour pages unless otherwise stated.