FirePower Series Aircraft

The Focke-Wulf Ta154

History:

As the war progressed, the British DeHavilland Mosquito was carrying out progressively more successful night missions with incredible speed and accuracy against German targets. The Ta 154 was Kurt Tank's response to this British “wooden wonder.” Like the Mosquito, the Ta-154 was made with wood as a primary material, and was a fast, twin-engine attack aircraft designed to operate at night and under all weather conditions. During the development of the Ta-154, Germany later gave higher priority to design the Ta-154 as a night fighter, rather than the high-speed bomber it was originally intended to be. They added a FuG 212 search radar, two MG 151’s and two 30mm MK108’s in the nose, and two obliquely-mounted in the upward firing position (“Schrage Musik”) 20mm MG 151’s in the rear fuselage. These rear, upward firing cannons would allow the Ta-154 to fly below a heavy bomber, and attack it’s more vulnerable, unarmored underbelly.

A good deal of room had been made for production of the Ta-154, and large-scale production was supposed to begin in October, 1943. Output was expected to be 600 machines a month by January, 1945, and an anticipated total of 6,598 Ta-154’s by August 1945. In spite of the war situation getting worse, and problems associated with building the wooden aircraft (the biggest of which being the allied bombing of Goldschmitt glue factory shortly after production began), the program was scrapped. In the end, a total of seven pre-production aircraft and twelve production aircraft were built.

Distinctive characteristics:

Cockpit panel:

A close look at the powerful, protruding Jumo 211 engines shows that they are so immense that they even offer a good deal of pilot protection from enemy fire.

Flying characteristics:

The Ta-154 aircraft was fitted with two Junkers Jumo 211N or P engines of 1500 horsepower for takeoff and emergencies, with 1300 horsepower available for climbing.

The Ta 154, like the Mosquito (it was even called a "Moskito" by the Germans), was light for its size and thus quite maneuverable, from all accounts. It is stable in all flight regimes but demands an attentive hand to the stick; it is fairly sensitive to control inputs, making it a bit of a handful on instruments, but a patient and practiced pilot will have no particular difficulties with this aircraft. Stall and spin characteristics are unremarkable, with stall recovery generally consisting of a smooth application of power after pitching the nose down enough to regaining flying speed. It may tend to fall off to the left during a power-on stall but this tendency is not severe, and is easily countered through use of the rudder. At speeds beyond the maximum dive speed of 450 mph (730 kph) the controls will tend to freeze and will ultimately reverse or lock.

The aircraft will pull approximately 4 g's in a tight turn. The roll rate is approximately 30 degrees/second at 220 mph (356 kph) in combat trim.

The safety speed for single-engine operations is 200 kph. Do not apply full power on the dead engine below this speed. Flap damage will occur at speeds above 400 kph. Maximum gear extension speed is 300 kph, beyond which damage may occur.

Pilot Comments:

"The Moskito's greatest assets are its heavy firepower, light weight, and high speed.  Use them to your advantage to engage or break off the fight at will.  The controls are fairly light and responsive and the aircraft's manners are quite good overall."

Combat tactics:

Engaging fighters:

First rule – keep your energy high, because if you get into a turning battle, you may easily get into trouble if the enemy pilot has any reasonable amount of combat experience, especially if he is flying a light fighter. Your biggest advantage is your concentrated firepower, since it will only take one or two hits from your cannons to down a fighter. If you are on your enemies tail, and in a turning battle, remember you do have the obliquely mounted (upward firing) 20mm guns, which a lucky hit may be enough to win the engagement. Take full advantage of head on attacks too.

Intercepting bombers:

The firepower in your nose is so powerful and concentrated; you can literally take down a heavy bomber from virtually any angle of attack including head-on attacks. Keep your speed high, and make slashing attacks giving the defensive gunners little time to line up a shot. The concentrated cone of fire from your nose cannons allow you to put a tremendous amount of power into a small area, so aim carefully and fire in quick bursts. If you pass beneath, open up with a burst from your upward firing guns into the vulnerable underbelly of the enemy aircraft.

Ground attack:

Your concentrated cone of fire from your nose cannons allows you to put a lot of power into a very small area. Use quick bursts of your cannon. If you are lucky enough to come across a convoy traveling in line down a road, one well-executed strafing pass is all that is needed to destroy or damage practically the entire column. Don’t forget, that your cannons can even destroy some buildings, and the concentrated fire is perfect for strafing ships. There really isn’t much that moves that can withstand even a short burst from your cannons.

Specifications:

Type: Two-seat Night and Bad-weather Fighter. Power Plants: Two Junkers Jumo 213 N/P inverted-vee liquid-cooled engines each rated at 1,500 h.p. for take-off and 1,300 h.p. for climb. Armament: Two 20mm MG151 cannon with 200 r.p.g. and two 30mm MK108 cannon with 110 r.p.g. Weights: Loaded 19,687 lb.; maximum 21,050 lb. Dimensions: Span, 53 ft 6 in; length 41 ft 2 ¾ in; height, 11 ft 9 ¾ in; wing area 348.75 sq ft

Firepower Certified Specifications:

Focke-Wulf Ta 154 A and Ta 154 B Moskito

ENGINE OPERATION

This engine uses the common German "Kommandogerat" system which automates mixture control.  Mixture control is not available on this engine.

TAKEOFF (18,188 lbs.)

Flaps: None

Elevator trim: Neutral

Rudder trim: +15%

Rotation speed: 120 mph/195 kph IAS

Liftoff speed: 135 mph/220 kph IAS

CLIMBING (18,188 lbs.)

Initial climb: 2900 fpm (14.5 m/s) at full power/140 mph IAS

Normal climb: 150 mph (251 kph) IAS @ 1.32 ata/2500 rpm

Rate of climb: 2000 fpm (10 m/s)

LANDING (16,481 lbs.)

Gear extension: 155 mph/275 kph IAS

Flap extension: 155 mph/251 kph IAS

Approach speed: 140 mph/225 kph IAS

Full flaps at 140 mph/225 kph IAS

Over airfield boundary: 120 mph/200kph IAS

Touchdown at 101 mph/163 kph IAS

Firepower Certified Specifications:

Top Speed @ SL: 335 mph (543 kph) TAS

Top Speed @ Alt: 395 mph (640 kph) TAS @ 24,300 feet

Max Cruise @ SL: 281 mph (455 kph) TAS @ 1.15 ata/2250 rpm

Max Cruise @ 19,685 ft: 273 mph IAS/362 mph TAS @ 1.15 ata/2250 rpm

Normal Cruise: 258 mph IAS/343 mph TAS @ 19,685 feet @ 1.0 ata/2000 rpm

Climb: 10 minutes to 19,685 ft @ 1.32 ata/2500 rpm/150 mph IAS

Initial climb: 3000 fpm (15 m/s)

1 g stall speed, clean: 105 mph IAS (170 kph/91 kts) @ 18,188 lbs.

1 g stall speed, landing: 90 mph IAS (145 kph/78 kts) @ 18,188 lbs.

Stall behavior: moderate wing drop, recovery routine, spins possible.

Takeoff: Rotation speed 120 mph IAS (194 kph/104 kts) @ 18,188 lbs.

Ramp weight: 14,557 pounds

Normal takeoff/test weight: 18,188 pounds

Max takeoff wt: 18,188 pounds

Roll rate: Approx. 45 deg/sec at 250 mph IAS.

Turning rate, in Gs: Approx. 4.5 Gs at 250 mph in a level turn.

High speed dives: Controls will freeze/reverse at approx. 500 mph IAS (810 kph/435 kts)

Vmax: 462 mph IAS (750 kph/402 kts)

To Gear down: mild pitch down

To Flaps down: mild pitch down

Engines: 2x Junkers Jumo 211R inline liquid-cooled V-12

Takeoff power: 1500 HP @ 1.45 ata/2700 RPM

Climb (rated) power: 1300 HP @ 1.32 ata/2500 RPM

Max cruise power: 950 HP @ 1.15 ata/2300 RPM

Service ceiling: 34,440 feet

Fuel capacity: 396 gallons

Range: 872 miles

Fuel consumption at max cruise: 79 gph/engine