This Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a Komet and its Walter HWK 109-509 Rocket Engine are photographed in the Museum of Flight in Scotland in 2016. The jet aircraft has Werknummer 191659 (Construction number).
The Me163 was the fastest plane of the Second World War. The jet fighter reached speeds of over 1000 km/h and used two 30 mm Rheinmetall Borsig MK 108 guns but could also be outfitted with Orkan R4M rockets. It was designed by Alexander Lippisch and in July 1944 test pilot Heini Dittmar reached a top speed of 1130 km/h – 700 mph. Aviation had to wait 9 years until 1953 before this speed record was broken.
