Mario Merino's "Wespe" images
The Heinkel "Wespe" (Wasp) was designed in late 1944 at the Vienna
Heinkel works as a VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing)
interceptor. It was mainly to be used around factory complexes as a "point
defense" interceptor, much like the Bachem Ba 349 "Natter".
The Wespe was designed around a circular wing, with small wing tips
protruding beyond the circular wing at the two lower wing support locations.
A single He S 021 turboprop (the turboprop development of the He S 011
jet engine), driving a six-bladed propeller, provided 2000 horsepower
plus 750 kp thrust and was fed by an air intake located below the cockpit.
The Wespe took off and landed on three landing gear, which in flight were
covered for aerodynamical purposes. The pilot sat in a normal seated position
in the nose under a huge blown canopy, and two MK 108 30mm cannon mounted
in blisters on each side of the cockpit were envisioned for the armament.
Further development was not carried forth due to the approaching war's
end, and that a more aerodynamic, cleaner VTOL project (the "Lerche
II") was also in the design phase.
Mario Merino's "Wespe" images
Span: 5 m (16' 5") Length: 6.2 m (20' 4") Max. Speed: 800 km/h (497 mph)
A big thanks to Gary Webster for the use of the graphic to the right