DFS 331
Type of aircraft
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After the success of the 1940 airborne assaults involving the DFS 230, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM/German Aviation Ministry) invited the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug/DFS and Gotha to submit plans for a larger capacity glider.[2] The result was the DFS 231, a twenty-seat troop designed by Hans Jacobs, who had previously produced the successful, nine seat DFS 230.[3]
| DFS 331 | |
|---|---|
| |
| General information | |
| Type | Troop glider |
| Manufacturer | DFS/Gotha |
| Designer | |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | 30 September 1940[1] |
The visibility from the cockpit was good, with the entire nose being glazed, and the body was very wide, allowing it to carry light Flak guns and small military vehicles. A single prototype, the V1, was built and flown in 1941. The best glide ratio, at fully loaded weight, was 17.5.[2] The project was passed over in favour of the Gotha Go 242.[3]
Specifications
Data from Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945,[4] German gliders in World War II[5]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 20 troops or 2,300 kg (5,071 lb) of cargo
- Length: 15.81 m (51 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan: 23 m (75 ft 6 in)
- Height: 3.55 m (11 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 60 m2 (650 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 2,270 kg (5,004 lb)
- Gross weight: 4,770 kg (10,516 lb)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 330 km/h (210 mph, 180 kn)
- Maximum glide ratio: 1:18
- Maximum towing speed: 330 km/h (205 mph)
Armament
- Guns: 2x 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 15 machine-guns
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists