WWII AIRCRAFT OF THE WEEK: FW-190; Country of Origin: Nazi Germany
Type: Fighter
Crew: 1
Powerplant: BMW 801 radial engine
Armament:
-Guns: 2x MG-131 13mm
-Autocannon: 4x MG-151/20 20mm
-Bombs: 1x 250 lb.
Top Speed: 405 mph(652 kph); UPON ITS INTRODUCTION IN 1941, THE FW-190 WOULD JOIN THE BF-109 AS THE BACKBONE OF THE LUFTWAFFE'S FIGHTER FORCE(JAGDWAFFE). ITS BMW 801 ENGINE ALLOWED IT TO CARRY HEAVIER LOADS THAN THE BF-109, ENABLING ITS USE AS A FIGHTER-BOMBER AND GROUND-ATTACK AIRCRAFT. IT WAS SUPERIOR IN MOST ASPECTS TO ANY ALLIED FIGHTER UNTIL THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SPITFIRE MK. IX IN 1942. THE FW-190'S PERFORMANCE SUFFERED AT HIGHER ALTITUDES, BUT OVERALL IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST FIGHTER PLANES OF WWII.