- Yes!
- No!
- Jumo 004B-1 (the engines used on the V9 prototype)
- Jumo 004D (most likely what the (pre-)production-version would have used)
- I voted no.
- The enlarged 40° tail (possible stability problems).
- The standard Me 262 tail (increased drag).
- I voted no.
The Me 262 HG I (HG = “Hohe Geschwindigkeit” / “High-Speed”, also known as “Hochgeschwindigkeitsjäger” / “High-Speed Fighter”), was a one-off prototype meant to improve the overall performance of the base-model Me 262 A-1a. The plane was assembled from prototype V9, WNr. 130 004 and was modified extensively in October 1944. The HG I was equipped with an all-new canopy, now known as a “racing-canopy (Rennkabine)”, meant for reducing drag. The wing-roots were extended from the frontal base towards the nose-section, new horizontal tail-surfaces with a 40° sweep, as well as an enlarged rudder (extended to the end of the tail) were installed, and the aircraft-skin was smoothed to further decrease drag. Overall, drag was estimated to have been reduced by around 10-20%.
The plane started test flights on January 18th 1945, being flown by Karl Baur. After only five flights, Baur complained about the new tail having stability-issues, which resulted in the replacement of the prototype tail with a standard Me 262 tail-section. After another 20 test-flights in March 1945, the prototype is thought to have been destroyed by allied bombings of the Lechfeld Airbase.
The plane demonstrated improved speed, maneuverability and acceleration during it’s short test-phase, and is stated to have approached 965 kph in level flight at an altitude of 6.000m, but the design itself was thought to be capable of withstanding speeds of up to mach 0.83 (1017 kph).
If the plane would have ever reached the stage of pre-production, or even production, it is assumed that instead of the Jumo 004B-1, the higher performance Jumo 004D would have been installed, the same engine currently present on the Ho 229 V3 ingame.
Specifications:
Crew: 1
Lenght: 10,6m
Wingspan: 12,65m
Height: 3,84m
Max-speed: 965kph at 6.000m (airframe thought to be able to withstand 1016kph)
Range: 1050km
Service-ceiling: 11450m
Engines: 2x Jumo 004B-1 “Orkan” (Jumo 004D planned)
Armament: 4x MK108 cannons (same ammo as standard Me 262 A-1a), possible mounting-options of R4M rockets, 250kg & 500kg bombs and drop-tanks (same fuselage as standard Me 262 A-1a allows same loadout options)
Thoughts:
I personally think the HG I would be a great end of the line Me 262 for Germany, representing probably the best 262 we can currently get ingame. As for the question of the engine and tail, this would have to be decided by the devs. I personally favour the Jumo 004D engine with the non-standard, enlarged tail-design, if enough data on it can be found, otherwise the Jumo 004Ds with the standard Me 262 tail would also still be quite a performance improvement over the Me 262 A-1a.
What are your thoughts on this unique plane? Let me know!
Sources
Me 262: Development, Testing, Production by Willy Radinger & Walter Schick
New Plane Proposal – Me 262 HG II - Passed for Consideration - War Thunder - Official Forum
Goering’s Big Bungle | Air & Space Forces Magazine
Me-262: Future in light of engine development | Aircraft of World War II - WW2Aircraft.net Forums
Messerschmitt Me 262
Messerschmitt Me 262
Messerschmitt Me-262 HG I
https://www.reddit.com/r/WeirdWings/comments/iahmsq/a_photo_of_the_messerschmitt_me_262_hg_i_i_dont/
Messerschmitt Me 262
Messerschmitt Me 262 HG Variants | Secret Projects Forum
Me 262 HG I English
Messerschmitt Me 262 - Flugzeuge - Panzerfreund
Messerschmitt Me 262 – Wikipedia