| DFS 331 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Troop glider |
| Manufacturer | DFS/Gotha |
| Designer | Hans Jacobs |
| First flight | 1942[1] |
| Number built | 1[1] |
The DFS 331 was a transport glider prototype developed in a collaboration between DFS and Gotha. It was a twenty seat troop transport designed by Hans Jacobs, who had previously produced the successful, nine seat DFS 230.[2]
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 was built and flown in 1941. The project was passed over in favour of the Gotha Go 242.[2]
Specifications[]
Data from Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933-1945[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 20 troops or 2,300 kilograms (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 (205 mph; 178 kn)
- Maximum glide ratio: 1:18
- Towing speed: 270 kilometres per hour (168 mph)
Armament
- Guns: 2x MG15 machine-guns
See also[]
- Gotha Go 242
- DFS 230
- Waco CG-4A
- General Aircraft Hotspur
- Airspeed Horsa
- Slingsby Hengist
- Gribovski G-11
- Antonov A-7
- Me 328 -
- Me 329 -
- Fa 330 -
- DFS 331 -
- DFS 332 -
- Fi 333 -
- Me 334
- List of World War II military gliders
- List of military aircraft of Germany
- List of World War II military aircraft of Germany
- List of gliders
References[]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to DFS aircraft. |
- Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Nowarra, Heinz J. (1993). Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933-1945 : Band 1 Flugzeugtypen AEG - Dornier. 1. Germany: Bernard & Graefe Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7637-5465-6.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wood, Alan (1990). History of the World's Glider Forces. Patrick Stephens Limited. ISBN 978-1-85260-275-8.
- Bibliography
- Nowarra, Heinz; Force, Ed (1991). German Gliders in World War II. U.S.: Schiffer Publishing Ltd.. ISBN 0-88740-358-1.
The original article can be found at DFS 331 and the edit history here.