Prototypes Heinkel He 177

the fifth prototype 177, v5, stammkennzeichen code pm+od , cockpit design used on first 8 prototypes.

on 17 november 1938, before construction of 177 v3 , v4 prototype airframes had been started, ernst heinkel had asked rlm set aside v3 , v4 airframes trial installation of 4 separate junkers jumo 211 powerplants overcome concerns rlm technischen-amt technical department s director ernst udet , heinkel had expressed rlm s dive-bombing priority 177a, turned down trial fitment.

the 177 v5 incorporated number of changes principally concerned defensive armament installations. in 1941, during simulated low-level attack, both db 606 engines burst flames, , v5 hit ground , exploded. 177 v6 first aircraft equipped main production type db 606 a/b engines instead of pre-production units, offered slight increase in take-off power 100 ps 2700 ps (2,663 hp, 1,986 kw). 177 v7 featured revised nose section which, while following contours of nose sections employed previous prototypes, considerably reinforced , embodied fewer glazed panels. in september 1941, 177 v8, last of prototypes had different, bullet-like cockpit shaping , construction production 177a series aircraft, made available engine tests. however, owing urgency of other development work returned heinkel after 40 days, , not possible resume engine tests in air until february 1942. 177 v1 v8 , a-0 production prototypes notable having broad-bladed set of four-bladed propellers, blade shapes , profiles similar used on junkers ju 88 medium bomber. these not used on production 177a series aircraft.

a 177s outline in flight, heading away camera.

photographs of first 8 prototypes show largely circular fuselage cross-section, forward of wing root, a-0 series possessing flatter sides, dorsal , ventral surfaces of main a-series production aircraft. choice of called cabin 3 cockpit design on 20 september 1939 production a-series run, placed well-framed hemispherical fishbowl nose onto 177 a-0, giving generic stepless cockpit , without separate windshield pilot , co-pilot, beginning heinkel s own 111p german bomber aircraft had in world war ii, , indeed had on 8 of prototypes earlier bullet nose design. forward glazing of 177a s stepless cockpit had each set of characteristic framing members, of 4 supporting frame members per set running in each orthogonal direction, running parallels , meridians on globe would. 2 sets of 4 square windows, arranged in square of 4 windows each on each side of upper cockpit, behind fishbowl s rear edge, provided sideways vision cockpit pilot , crew. photographic evidence shows these side windows produced slight differences in external appearance between built heinkel (with primary headquarters, heinkel-nord plant near rostock, , satellite heinkel-süd plants around vienna) , built arado flugzeugwerke, major subcontractor 177a s airframes. often, 2 lower rows of fishbowl s windows in nose glazing made opaque, exception of bombardier s protruding bombsight window offset starboard in lower nose glazing, either painting them on or replacing them metal panels performed same function.