Dornier Do-335 Pfeil



This aircraft was designed by Ron Jackson, if you have any questions concerning this aircraft please use the link provided to contact him.  This plane is based on the real life german WWII aircraft that was a twin engined design, a uneque pusher and puller.  There will be a special rule or a uneque aircraft template for this aircraft coming hopefully in the near future. 

 
A secret picture of the Luftwaffe's Dornier Do-335 Pfiel (Arrow)

"Fightin' those things was like shootin' at tanks.  They just wouldn't go down!"
      - Unnamed captured pirate, prior to his execution.

Name - Dornier Do-335 Pfiel (Arrow)
Class - Heavy Fighter/Gunship (Tractor and Pusher)
Manufacturer - Dornier Flugzeigwerke - Stuttgart, Germany
Engine - (2) Daimler-Benz DB603E-1 12 Cylinder Inverted Vee Engines 1800 h.p. each
Loaded Weight - 8,250 lbs.
Service Ceiling - 20,000 ft.
Range - 967 miles
Max. Speed - 254 mph
Max. Accel. - 65.7 feet/second
Max. Decel. - 64.9 feet/second

Wing Span - 45 ft. 3 in.
Length - 45 ft. 5 in.
Height - 16 ft. 5 in.

Weapons:
    (1) Rheinmetall Mk 103 70-caliber cannon (propellor hub)
    (2) Rheinmetall MG 151/15 50-caliber cannon (wings)
    (2) Mauser "Jaeger" 40-caliber machine guns (nose)

Design History:
    In 1934 the re-constituted Luftwaffe issued a requirement for an aircraft capable of performing the missions of daylight fighter, interceptor, long-range escort and ground attack gunship.  In order to fulfill
these diverse requirements, the Dornier Flugzeugwerke developed a radical new design utilizing two engines in a push-pull arrangement.  Initial testing showed much promise, and further development was authorized in 1935.
    The arrangement of the Arrow's engines offers certain advantages over traditional twin designs.  The in-line positioning results in a narrow front profile that is not only aerodynamically clean but also more difficult to hit in combat.  It also provides additional pilot protection against enemy fire coming from the front and rear - the two most likely directions.
    Powered by two Daimler-Benz DB603E-1 engines, the Arrow offers respectable flying performance.  Maneuverability is average, though the rate of roll is exceptional for a twin-engine craft.  Acceleration is average, but top-end speed is sufficient to stay with all byt the fastest opponents.  The Arrow is woll armed with twin 40 cal guns in the nose, two 50 cals in the wings, and a big 70 cal cannon firing down a hollow shaft through the propellor hub.  Armor is heavier than average, a blessing in ground attack operations and an equalizer when tangling with more nimble fighters.
    As you might expect, the position of the rear engine makes bailing out particularly dangerous.  To alleviate the problem, Dornier installed a pilot-activated explosive charge that blows the rear propellor off the aircraft. Three separately routed wires ensure that at least one will be functional through any damage short of swvering the fuselage entirely.  Should the unforeseen occur and a pilot is forced to bail out with the propellor in place, the pilot would stall the Arrow while rolling inverted.  At the moment when all forward momentum is lost, the pilot drops clear of the craft.  While this sounds fine in theory, no one is willing to test it in practice!

Role:
    Currently the Arrow is undergoing combat trials with the ISA air militia as part of the military exchange agreement between the ISA and Germany, whereby the ISA receives equipment and "advisor" personnel support while the Germans gain valuable combat experience for their pilots and aircraft.  Air combat tactics with the Arrow emphasize slash-and-run attacks, while relying on teamwork to defeat tighter-turning adversaries.

Deployment:
    Only a handful of Arrows are on the continent, and these are used in a purely defensive role.  To prevent any copies from falling into unwanted hands, Arrow pilots are strictly prohibited from crossing the ISA border.  The Arrow is expected to go into full production by mid-1936, with license manufacturing in the ISA starting early 1937.  Expect Arrow pilots to show a more agressive posture when that happens.

Pilots and Campaigns:
    To date only one major action has occured involving the Arrow.  A flight of Arrows on a long-range test hop with advisor pilots and full war load came across a pirate raid in progress against an ISA harbor on Lake Superior.  As the Arrows went to intercept, a flight from a rival pirate band joined the fray.  After an initial three-way combat, the pirates decided to team up and split the spoils later.  Though hard pressed by superior numbers, the Arrows downed three pirates and forced the rest to withdraw due to low fuel.  No Arrows were lost in the engagement.



Game Stats:
 
Game Points Mass
Base Target Number 6 5000 lbs.
Maximum Speed 3 900 lbs.
Maximum G's 2 700 lbs.
Maximum Acceleration 2 350 lbs.
 
Armor Points 300 900 lbs.
Nose 60 180 lbs.
Port Wing Leading 60 180 lbs.
Port Wing Trailing 40 120 lbs.
Starboard Wing Leading 60 180 lbs.
Starboard Wing Trailing 40 120 lbs.
Tail 40 120 lbs.
 
Weapons Arc Mass
70 cal. Cannon Forward: Nose 850 lbs.
50 cal. Cannon Forward: Right Wing 400 lbs.
50 cal. Cannon Forward: Right Wing 400 lbs.
40 cal. Machine Gun Forward: Nose 250 lbs.
40 cal. Machine Gun Forward: Nose 250 lbs.


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