Dornier Do 335
| Do 335 Pfeil | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Fighter-bomber |
| National origin | Nazi Germany |
| Manufacturer | Dornier Flugzeugwerke |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | Luftwaffe |
| Number built | 37 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1944–1945 |
| Introduction date | 1944 |
| First flight | 26 October 1943 |
| Retired | 1945 |
The Dornier Do 335 Pfeil (Arrow) is a heavy fighter built by Dornier for Germany during World War II. The Pfeil's performance was predicted to be better than other twin-engine designs due to its unusual push-pull configuration and the lower aerodynamic drag of the in-line alignment of the two engines. It is considered one of the fastest piston-engined aircraft ever and was Nazi Germany's fastest piston-engined aircraft of World War II. The Luftwaffe was desperate to get the design into operational use, but delays in engine deliveries meant that only a handful were delivered before the war ended.
The Do 335 was originally designed as a Schnellbomber. It could reach speeds of around 800 km/h in level flight, and could outrun most of the military aircraft in service at the time, with only first generation jet fighters being faster.