Any aviation historians know about Focke Wulf's prototype "falcon wing" Fw 190? Check my reference list at the end of this post for some drawings
and models.
I haven't found any photos of the real thing yet. The Fw 190 V19 seems to have been based on the Fw 190A-6, but with a different wing and horizontal
stabilizer. Using the same wing root location, the wing had a short inner section with forward sweep, changing to a rearward swept outer section.
The horizontal stabilizer also was swept, but the aircraft appears to be otherwise a bone stock A-6. Reference #3 below shows a Focke Wulf company
drawing with the basic idea--to graft a swept wing onto an existing aircraft without upsetting the balance too badly.
There was also apparently a "special" version with an inline engine, probably a Daimler Benz DB603. Justo Miranda made a drawing of it with German
civil registration D-GHKP. Any further information on this type seems to be available only by purchasing Miranda's zine... and I'm not sure how
much of his stuff is fact and how much is fantasy.
Regardless, the A-6 based V19 seems fairly plausible.
As for J. Mirandas
special version, well, I am skeptical but open for more information. Looking at his drawing (reference #5 below), I made a
list of stuff:
- civil registration D-GHKP
- DB603 engine, intake on left side, oil cooler under chin just like on a Bf 109
- flat-back (non-bubble) canopy, same as an Fw 190A-6
- standard length empennage with no extension plug
- standard short-chord vertical stabilizer
- standard hinged cowling panel in front of windscreen, but gun bulges are smallish (MG17, rather than MG131?)
- 4 cannon in wings. inner pair (probably MG151/20) synchronized firing thru prop, outer pair has flash hiders, look like MG/FF
- radiator mounted on sides of fuselage behind cockpit, sort of like the intercoolers on a P-38
-- but how is the glycol plumbed to the radiators? area under the cockpit seat is not enlarged. fuel tanks must be tweaked slightly
- horizontal stabilizer is swept, but appears otherwise same as standard Fw 190 type. Trim appears to be standard type: a jackscrew that varies the
incidence of horizontal stabilizer.
- wing outer sections (spars, ribs, etc) appear to be identical to regular Fw 190 wing, except for geometric sweepback.
- wingtip retains distinctive Fw 190 appearance
- aileron trim tabs appear to be simple bendable metal tabs
- pilot foot step under left wing trailing edge is present.. but it appears very awkwardly located under the new radiator.
- no unusual antennas: just the standard long wire antenna and a 12-18 inch long antenna under the fuselage. no DF loop, no fancy latewar avionics
apparent.
+++ conclusion on J. Miranda's "special" drawing: if it existed was probably also built from a Fw 190A6. The antenna layout, cowling guns, and
canopy all indicate the prototype was made from parts dating from mid 1943 or earlier, possibly an A6 like the other radial engined Pfeilfluegel
prototype.
References
1.
1:72 model by Ishiduka Isao
2.
VAMI 1:72 scale V19,
3.
Focke Wulf company drawing dated 14 November 1941, showing an
adapted compound-swept wing with the
same wing root location and
almost the same aerodynamic centeras existing straight wing. This
seems to be the concept for the Fw 190 V19 prototype.
4.
Antares Models, offering both the A-6 derived version and the "special" version with
inline engine.
5. Only thing I could find on the DB603 powered version, D-GHKP:
Unknown #2 (scroll down), newsletter/zine published by P. Mercado and Justo Miranda.
6.
Drawing of "Special" Fw 190 V19 with inline engine, drawn by
Justo Miranda. I do not know if this is legitimate or fantasy. It appears to be a further development of the first V19.