Gotha Go 244

Updated on Jan 01, 2024

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Top speed 290 km/h Length 16 m Manufacturer Gothaer Waggonfabrik		Wingspan 24 m First flight 1940

Peter smart s electric powered gotha go 244

The Gotha Go 244 was a transport aircraft used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

Luftwaffe gotha go 244

Development

Gotha Go 244 Luftwaffe Resource Center Transports amp Utility Aircraft A

The Go 244 was the powered version of the Gotha Go 242 military glider transport. Studies for powered versions of the Go 242 began early in the design of the glider, with one early proposal being for modification to allow a single Argus As 10C engine to be temporarily attached to the nose of the glider to allow recovery back to base after use. This idea was rejected, but the alternative of a permanently powered twin-engined version was taken forward.

Gotha Go 244 Gotha Go 242244 RevellItalaerei H2006 1977

Three Go 242s were modified as prototypes of the powered Go 244, fitted with varying surplus radial engines. The first prototype, the Go 244 V1 was powered by two 660 hp (492 kW) BMW 132, while the second prototype had 700 hp (522 kW) Gnome-Rhône 14Ms — and the third 750 hp (560 kW) Shvetsov M-25 A engines, with this model of Shvetsov OKB engine design being essentially a Soviet-built Wright Cyclone American-based nine-cylinder radial. Although only the third prototype offered adequate engine out performance, the Luftwaffe had large stocks of captured Gnome engines, so this was chosen as the basis for the production conversion — usually fitted in counter-rotating pairs in production — although a few more aircraft were fitted with the BMW and Shvetsov engines.

Gotha Go 244 Paul39s Italeri 172nd Gotha GO 244 transport aircraft Flickr

The B series was the main production model, being based on the Go 242B with a wheeled tricycle undercarriage and with fuel and oil carried in the tailbooms. 133 were converted from Go 242 Bs, while a further 41 were built from new before production reverted to the glider Go 242. Plans were also created for single-engined variants with a nose-mounted Argus A 10C or Junkers Jumo 211.

Operational history

Gotha Go 244 httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

The first examples of the Go 244 were delivered to operational units in Greece, based in Crete in March 1942. Some were also assigned to transport Geschwader in North Africa and the Eastern Front but on the former front they proved vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire and were withdrawn, being replaced by Junkers Ju 52 or Messerschmitt Me 323 aircraft.

Variants

Go 244 A-1 - prototype, using the BMW 132 radial engine

Go 244 B-1 - production version, with fixed landing gear

Go 244 B-2 - B-1 with improved landing gear including a larger semi-retractable nose wheel

Go 242 B-3 - paratroop-carrying version of B-1 with double rear doors

Go 244 B-4 - paratroop-carrying version of B-2 with doors of B-3 and landing gear of B-2

Go 244 B-5 - training version with dual controls

Specifications (Go 244 B-1)

Data from Gotha's Twin-Boom Troopers

General characteristics

Crew: 1 or 2 pilots

Capacity: up to 23 troops or freight

Length: 15.80 m (51 ft 10 in)

Wingspan: 24.50 m (80 ft 4½ in)

Height: 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)

Wing area: 64.4 m² (693 ft²)

Empty weight: 5,100 kg (11,243 lb)

Loaded weight: 6,800 kg (14,991 lb)

Max. takeoff weight: 7,162 kg (15,789 lb)

Powerplant: 2 × Gnome-Rhône 14M 06/07 14-cylinder radial engine, 742 hp (553 kW) at 2,000 m (6,560 ft) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 290 km/h (157 knots, 180 mph) at 4,000 m (13,100 ft)

Cruise speed: 270 km/h (146 knots, 168 mph) at 3,900 m (12,800 ft)

Range: 410 km (222 nmi, 255 mi)

Service ceiling: 8,350 m (27,395 ft)

Climb to 1,000 m (3,300 ft): 3 min

Armament

Guns: 3 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 15 or MG 81Z machine guns

References

Gotha Go 244 Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA