Messerschmitt Me-264 Amerika (1)

The Me 264 Amerika (America) was a long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft developed by Messerschmitt during World War II for the Luftwaffe. It was intended to support U-boat operations far into the Atlantic, serving both as a scout to direct the attack, as well as launching attacks of its own. The design was later selected as a competitor in the Reichsluftfahrtministerium's (the German Air Ministry) "Amerika Bomber"; programme, which intended to develop a strategic bomber capable of attacking New York City from bases in France or the Azores, although it is highly doubtful that this would have been achieved with a meaningful payload, if at all. One prototype was built, but production was abandoned to allow Messerschmitt to concentrate on fighter production while another design, the Junkers Ju 390, had been selected in its place as a maritime reconnaissance plane.

 

General characteristics:

Crew: Eight

Length: 21.3 m (69 ft 9 in)

Wingspan: 43 m (141 ft)

Height: 4.3 m (14 ft)

Wing area: 127.8 m² (1,376 ft²)

Empty weight: 21,150 kg (46,630 lb)

Loaded weight: 45,540 kg (100,400 lb)

Max takeoff weight: 56,000 kg (123,000 lb)

Powerplant: 4× BMW 801 G/H radial engines, 1,272 kW (1,730 hp) each

Performance:

Maximum speed: 560 km/h (350 mph)

Cruise speed: 350 km/h (217 mph)

Range: 15,000 km (9,500 mi)

Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,000 ft)

Rate of climb: 120 m/min (390 ft/min)

Wing loading: 356 kg/m² (72.9 lb/ft²)

Power/mass: 0.11 kW/kg (0.07 hp/lb)

Armament:

4 × 13 mm (0.51 in) MG 131 machine guns

2 × 20 mm (0.79 in) MG 151 cannons

6,600 lb (3,000 kg) bombload in internal bay.

Done