The Focke-Wulf Fw 187 Falke

In the field of air war, there are three groups: Winners, losers...and the never-reached-productions. The Focke Wulf Fw 187 "Falke" (Falcon) was one such aeroplane. It never went into production for various reasons. If it had, the possibilities for this great aircraft were legion. The Falke was A Zerstroyer, like the Bf 110.

When it was test-flown, it outsped the Messerschmitt Me109B by 50mph, (80km/h) despite the fact that it was almost double the weight and had twice the range!
The V1 prototype had a cramped cockpit, although not as much so as the 109. It was superbly maneuverable, making it immensly superior to the slow Bf 110.
The Falke, by all accounts, would have led to a spectacular line of fighters.

The V3 included a more spacious, tandem-seat cockpit. The V3 had an armament of four MG 17s, the cannon being under the floor. It was faster than any fighter as of September 1939. Interest from official quarters was light, if not non-existant.

Only three A-0 pre-production Falkes were made. These were used in combat by an Industrie-Scgutzstaffel, defending the company works at Bremen. (Dipl-Ing Mehlhorn was reported to have scored several kills.) In the winter of 1940-41, the trio was loaned to a Jagdstaffel in Norway, where they were said to be much preferred to the Bf 110. But when the RLM heard of this, they were immediately recalled.

Why the Luftwaffe never noticed this flyer is unknown. When one thinks about it, it was probably better for the Allies that the Germans didn't.

Technical Data

Origin: Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau GmbH

Type: Zerstorer, heavy fighter

Engines: Two Junkers Jumo 210 inverted-vee-12 liquid cooled.
(V1) 680hp 210Da, (most) 730hp 210Ga, (V6) 1000 hp DB 600A

Performance: (A-0) Maximum Speed 326mph (525 km/h);
initial climb; 3,445ft (1050m)/min;
service ceiling 32,800ft, (10,000m)

Empty weight: 8,157 lb (3 700 kg)

Loaded weight: 11,023 lb (5 000 kg)

Armament: Four 7.92mm MG 17 and two 20mm MG FF.

Span: 50 ft 2 1/3 in (15,30 m)

Length: 36 ft 6 in (11,12 m)

Height: 12 ft 7 2/3 in (3,90 m)

Wing Area: 327.23 sq ft (30,40 m2)

Charles Bain
charles_bain@hotmail.com