The Lippisch P.13a was an experimental ramjet-powered delta wing interceptor aircraft designed in late 1944 by Dr. Alexander Lippisch for Nazi Germany. The aircraft never made it past the drawing board, with testing of wind tunnel models showing the design had extraordinary stability into the Mach 2.6 range. As conventional fuel was in short supply at the end of the war, the ramjet was to be powered by powdered coal. It was the end of the war that prevented further development beyond the unpowered DM-1 test glider.

Specifications (P.13a, as designed)

General characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Length: 6.70 m (22 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 6.00 m (19 ft 9 in)
• Height: 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 20.0 m² (215 ft²)
• Empty: kg ( lb)
• Loaded: 2,295 kg (5,060 lb)
• Maximum takeoff: kg ( lb)
• Powerplant: 1x Kronach Lorin coal dust-burning ramjet

Performance

• Maximum speed: 648 km/h (403 mph)
• Range: 621 km (1,000 miles)
• Service ceiling: m ( ft)
• Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
• Wing loading: 115 kg/m² (24 lb/ft²)
• Thrust-to-weight:

Armament

• 2x 30 mm MK 103 cannons

External links

• Luft 46 Article on the P.13a

Related content

Related development: Lippisch DM-1

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence: P.10 - P.11 - P.12 - P.13/P.13a/P.13b - P.14 - P.15 - P.20