Messerschmitt Me P 1101: Luftwaffe swept wing jet fighter

In the summer of 1944, the Luftwaffe called for a single-seat fighter aircraft with a jet engine. This aircraft was to regain air supremacy over Germany through superior flight performance. The Messerschmitt company then developed the P 1101 project with an outstanding design. Different versions were planned as day fighters, all-weather fighters, night fighters and reconnaissance aircraft. The aircraft was to have swept wings to enable it to fly particularly fast. As Messerschmitt was not sure what the best sweep angle would be, a test aircraft was built in which the wings could be adjusted on the ground in order to find the optimum design. This aircraft was almost completed when American troops reached the Messerschmitt factory in Oberammergau. The Me P 1101 remained unnoticed for about a year until the Bell company brought it to the USA to carry out test flights. However, the P 1101 was damaged during transportation and Bell built its own version as the X-5, two of which provided valuable insights. Many photos and original drawings show this jet fighter in great detail. An important source for aviation historians and model builders. — ISBN13: 9798326342546