Gotha Go 147

The original aim was to create a two-seat fighter with an exceptional field of fire for the tail gunner. The design featured a high-mounted gull wing, gently tapered and swept back to give a leading-edge sweep of 38 degrees. The gull centre section had a straight leading edge, while endplate fins and rudders were mounted on the tips. The crew sat in tandem behind the single engine.

An experimental prototype was first constructed, designated the Go 147a. With a length of {{convert|20|ft|7|in|m}} and powered by a Siemens Sh 14A air-cooled radial engine delivering {{convert|140|hp|kW}}.Green, William. Warplanes of the Third Reich, Macdonald and Jane's, London, Fourth Impression, 1979.Gunston, Bill & Wood, Tony. Hitler's Luftwaffe, Salamander, London, 1977.

Flight tests demonstrated instability, but showed enough promise for a production prototype, the Go 147b, to be built. Several roles were now under consideration, including gunnery training, a twin-engined fighter with a second, pusher engine in the rear, and an observation aircraft. Featuring an N-strut braced wing with full-span trailing-edge slotted flaperons, the design also had a fixed undercarriage. Construction was conventional, with welded steel-tube fuselage and wooden two-spar wing. Power came from a more powerful {{convert|240|hp|kW}} Argus engine. Although planned, no armament was fitted.

The Go 147a first flew in 1936. During trials, a number of stability problems were encountered.

The redesigned Go 147b was registered as D-IQVI. Extensive trials failed to cure its poor flight characteristics and the project was terminated in 1938 or 1939.

thumb

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Green (1979).

|prime units?=imp

|genhide=

|crew=2

|length m=

|length ft=19

|length in=3

|length note=

|span m=

|span ft=40

|span in=1.5

|span note=

|height m=

|height ft=9

|height in=6

|height note=

|wing area sqm=

|wing area sqft=209

|wing area note=

|swept area note=

|airfoil=

|empty weight kg=

|empty weight lb=2,083

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=

|gross weight lb=2,524

|gross weight note=

|max takeoff weight kg=

|max takeoff weight lb=

|max takeoff weight note=

|fuel capacity=

|lift note=

|more general=

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Argus

|eng1 type=As 10 air-cooled 8-cylinder inverted-vee

|eng1 hp=240

|eng1 note= takeoff power

|power original=

|more power=

|prop blade number=2

|prop name=

|prop dia m=

|prop dia ft=

|prop dia in=

|prop dia note=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=

|max speed mph=137

|max speed kts=

|max speed note= at sea level

|cruise speed kmh=

|cruise speed mph=121

|cruise speed kts=

|cruise speed note=at {{convert|6,560|ft|m}}

|stall speed kmh=

|stall speed mph=

|stall speed kts=

|stall speed note=

|minimum control speed kmh=

|minimum control speed mph=

|minimum control speed kts=

|minimum control speed note=

|range km=

|range miles=

|range nmi=

|range note=

|ferry range km=

|ferry range miles=

|ferry range nmi=

|ferry range note=

|endurance=

|ceiling m=

|ceiling ft=18045

|ceiling note=

|climb rate ms=

|climb rate ftmin=

|climb rate note=Climb to {{convert|3,280|ft|m}}, 4.8 min.

|time to altitude=

|lift to drag=

|wing loading kg/m2=

|wing loading lb/sqft=

|wing loading note=

|fuel consumption kg/km=

|fuel consumption lb/mi=

|more performance=

}}

• Westland-Hill Pterodactyl V: Near-contemporary of similar role and configuration.
• Gotha Go 229: Later Gotha tailless flying wing, also known as the Horten Ho 229.

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last1=Metzmacher |first1=Andreas |title=Gotha Aircraft 1913-1954: From the London Bomber to the Flying Wing Jet Fighter |date=2021 |publisher=Fonthill |location=Brimscombe, Stroud |isbn=978-1-78155-706-8}}

{{Gotha aircraft}}

{{RLM aircraft designations}}

Go 147

Category:Tailless aircraft