Blohm & Voss BV 40

Blohm & Voss BV 40


A unique curiosity such as the BV 40 fighter glider was the response to the first American daily air raids in early 1943. According to the creators, dozens of such gliders were to be dragged over the bombers' flight paths, from there they were to head to individual machines (mostly frontal attacks). The flight speed was to reach about 800 km/h. The subsequent project was to return over the target area and drop the explosive charge "Schlinge" among the bombers. Those were the ideas. In fact, two cannons were used as armament MK 108 caliber 30 mm (35 rounds per weapon) built into the wing-fuselage transition.


The wings, tail surfaces and fuselage behind the wings were of all-wood construction of simple shape. The front part with the cabin was welded from heavy steel armor plates and with armored glass in the windows. The pilot lay in the cockpit. The machine took off on a two-wheeled chassis and landed on the rails. The first prototype BV 40 V-1 was tested in a tow for Bf 110 in May 1944 and was destroyed in the second flight. The tests continued with other prototypes and the construction of a 200-piece series began. In total, only seven prototypes were built and the program was stopped in the fall of 1944.