World's first Jet Plane

Heinkel He 178 was the first type of combat aircraft, but was never used in combat with an Luftwaffe and was never put into series operation, as it was not approved by the German Federal Ministry of Aviation (RLM) for Ernst Udet, Erhard Milch and Helmut Schelp during the first test mission after a pilot test on November 1, 1939.

In spite of the RLM's refusal to finance the He 178, Heinkel developed the first turbine hunter, the He 280, which went ahead of the Messerschmitt Me 262. When the end of the Second World War was approaching, Heinkel was at last able to fulfil his dreams and build his own jet plane, the He 162.

Test driver was captain Erich Warsitz, who also flown the first rocket-powered aircraft, the He 176. During its first test mission, the powerplant picked up a small fowl that damaged the inner powerplant, but the pilots succeeded in landing the aircraft securely. In spite of this event, the first test mission was regarded as a successful one.

The first He 178 (V1) was placed in the Luftmuseum in Berlin after several further test flight missions, where it was damaged in a bomb attack in 1943. Shortly afterwards the installation and manufacture of the second aircraft with some modification - especially bigger wing - was completed.

He 178 Heinkel He 178 2nd prototyp. It is not known whether the second prototyp (V2) was ever fully made. Please click here to keep up to date and know what's going on around the globe with our G.K. and Current Affairs section.