Germany was one of the leading developers of jet propulsion during the Second World War - in August 1939 the world's first jet aircraft, the Heinkel He 178, took to the air on its maiden flight. This new book examines all of the developments, production and aircraft types: He 280, Me 262, Ar 234, He 162, Ju 287, Ho IX, Me 328, P1101, Hs 132, DM 1, Ta 183 and others by such aircraft manufacturers as Heinkel, Junkers, Messerschmitt, and powerplant manufacturers BMW and Daimler-Benz. Numerous photographs and three-view drawings illustrate this extraordinary book.

This book is the first to present every rocket aircraft flown in Germany and the rocket systems developed by Walter and BMW, as well as several of the most interesting projects drawn up by Germany's aviation industry. In 1940 the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fur Segelflug launched the DFS 194, developed by Alexander Lippisch, and the tests with this experimental plane laid the foundation for the Messerschmitt Me 163, the world's first operational rocket fighter. Using a Walter rocket engine, the Me 163 achieved hitherto unimaginable climb rates and speeds. It was in this rocket powered plane...