Messerschmitt Me 163 / rocket fighter panel / 1945 / german Luftwaffe

MUSEUM GRADE ! 100 % parts originality guarantee !

Last living Me 163 from JG 400 "Helmuth Gottwald" (2013) sings the wooden base

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a piece of aviation history: the instrument panel of the iconic Messerschmitt Me 163 B rocket fighter. This rare and elusive artifact has been meticulously maintained and is in exceptional condition, with over 95% original parts and instruments. Build by his owner for over 20 years, this unique piece is now available for sale to exclusive collectors who appreciate the significance of owning such a rare and important piece of aviation history. Don't miss your chance to own this extraordinary piece of aviation memorabilia and bring a piece of the legendary Messerschmitt Me 163 B rocket fighter into your collection today.

Dimensions (cm) : Length 45, Width 25, Hight 32

Here are the products listed :

• Complete instrument panel with a original Bulletproof glass (or armour-plate glass)

• original Control stick (or flightstick KG 12 A)

• original Nose propeller of the Me 163 aircraft (often specifically referred to as the Ram Air Turbine or RAT on this aircraft model)

The instrument panel (Gerätetafel) in the cockpit of the Messerschmitt Me 163 B, the famous "Komet" rocket fighter, was fundamentally different from conventional piston-engine aircraft of the time. The instrumentation was designed for the extreme demands of the rocket propulsion and the very short, intensive duration of the mission.

Instrumentation of the Me 163 B

The instruments were, as was standard practice in German aircraft, arranged functionally, with the focus on the parameters that were crucial for rocket flight.

Central Flight Instruments:

Airspeed Indicator: Displayed in km/h, essential for monitoring the extremely high speeds (over 1000 km/h possible in level flight) and the critical landing speed (approx. 100 km/h).

Altimeter: Allowed monitoring of the rapid ascent to high altitudes (service ceiling of over 12,000 m reached in just a few minutes).

Artificial Horizon and Turn and Bank Indicator: Indispensable for blind flying, especially during landing after the glide flight phase.

Engine and System Monitoring:

Fuel Indicators (T-Stoff and C-Stoff): These were the most important instruments for monitoring the highly explosive propellants. The Me 163 had fuel for a maximum of 8 minutes of powered flight.

Pressure Gauges:

For monitoring fuel pressure and pressure in the systems.

Turbine Speed Indicator: An instrument for monitoring the small turbine that drove the fuel pumps via the airflow.

Special Features for Rocket Propulsion and Operation

The specific nature of the rocket fighter required unique instruments and priorities:

Priority of Fuel Monitoring:

The limited engine run time of just a few minutes made precise monitoring of fuel consumption more critical than in any other aircraft. The instruments had to provide the pilot with accurate information at all times on how much time was remaining with the engine active.

No Traditional Tachometer:

Since it was a rocket engine that either ran at full power or was shut off (no throttling like piston or early jet engines), a traditional engine tachometer was omitted.

Emergency Jettison System Displays:

Because the fuels were extremely dangerous and corrosive (T-Stoff was hydrogen peroxide), there were displays and switches for emergency systems to quickly empty the fuel tanks in the event of a leak or an emergency landing, to prevent explosions.

Film Recording of the Instrument Panel:

During test flights, special cameras were often installed to photograph the instrument panel during the critical flight phases, as events unfolded so quickly that the pilot could barely keep track.

In summary, the instrumentation of the Me 163 B was minimalist but highly specialized, designed to provide the pilot with the necessary information for the extremely fast climb, the short combat mission, and the subsequent unpowered glide flight to landing.

The Messerschmitt Me 163 B

Discover the Messerschmitt Me 163 "Komet" – a marvel of engineering that redefined the limits of what was possible! This aircraft was not just a fighter plane; it was a vision of the future that became a reality back in the 1940s.

The Revolution in the Sky: Unmatched Performance The "Komet" was the world's first and only rocket plane ever involved in aerial combat – a milestone in aviation history.

Superior Speed:

With a top speed of over 1,000 km/h (approx. 620 mph), the Me 163 was vastly superior to all contemporary fighters and the first aircraft ever to break this magical barrier. The Allies feared this "rocket-powered nightmare". Phenomenal Climb Rate: It shot into the sky in the shortest possible time to intercept enemy bomber formations. Within a few minutes, it reached the required operational altitude.

Tailless Design:

The radical, tailless design, developed by Dr. Alexander Lippisch, was aerodynamically brilliant and far ahead of its time, optimized for rocket propulsion. Unique Innovation The Me 163 was the culmination of the rocket flight idea of the 1920s and 30s. It used a highly developed, albeit challenging, liquid-fueled rocket engine that provided unparalleled thrust for rapid intercept missions. The unique takeoff and landing system – launching from a jettisonable dolly and landing on a skid – was an ingenious compromise for the extreme requirements of this revolutionary point-defense interceptor. Experience the fascination of a machine that rewrote the rules of aerodynamics and offered a glimpse into the future of high-speed aviation!

The Messerschmitt Me 163 "Komet" – a symbol of limitless technical ambition.