Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a Komet and it’s Walter HWK 109-509 Rocket Engine

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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. Werknummer 191659 (Construction number). The Me163 was the fasted plane of the Second World War, it reached speeds over 1000 km/h and used two 30 mm Rheinmetall Borsig MK 108 guns but could also be outfitted with Orkan R4M rockets.

Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a
Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a in Museum of Flight Scotland – photo 2016

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.

Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a
Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B Komet
Me 163B Komet
Me 163
Me 163
Me 163
Me 163
Me 163B Komet
Me 163B Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163 B-1a Komet
Me 163 B-1a Komet
Me 163 B-1a Komet
Me 163 B-1a Komet
Me 163
Me 163
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Me 163
Me 163 Courtesy of John Pape
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163B-1a Komet
Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a
Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a
Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a
Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a Cockpit
Me 163B-1a Komet Cockpit – Courtesy of the Museum of Flight

Me 163B-1a Komet

Me 163B-1a Komet
Me 163 B-1a Komet
Me 163 B-1a Komet
This Walter HWK 109-509 Rocket Engine powered the Me 163B-1a Komet
This Walter HWK 109-509 Rocket Engine powered the Me 163B-1a Komet
Walter HWK 109-509 Rocket Engine for the Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a Komet
Walter HWK 109-509 Rocket Engine for the Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a Komet

Me 163B-1a Komet

Walter HWK 109-509 Rocket Engine for Me 163B-1a Komet Courtesy of John Pape
Captain Eric Winkle Brown flew this Me 163B in 1945- Courtesy of the Museum of Flight
Captain Eric Winkle Brown flew this Me 163B in 1945- Courtesy of the Museum of Flight

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