smallest fighter proposed parasite fighter aircraft conceived december germany luftwaffe world war carried aloft launched mother aircraft activated rocket engine propelled attack allied mainly american british bombers development cancelled lack funds official support proposed variants fuel capacity target runs pilot required power landing belly survive close pursuits designed frontal cross section possible increase chances surviving shots forced pilot lie prone position cross section square meters approximately quarter cross section development near end world war december german aircraft manufacturers submitted design proposals small jet powered aircraft intended pursuit ground attack duties proposals exploited luftwaffe concept gaining tactical advantage placing excessive stress man cockpit german pilot forces envisioned proposals feasible aircraft structures exceeded human capabilities normal sitting position designers attempted alleviate placing pilot prone position increased sustainable force limit allowed reduction fuselage size weight drag smaller cross section decreased likelihood hit enemy gunners exploited opportunity according specific design philosophy fighter designed fly close bomber formations open fire cannon point blank range began proposal parasite fighter carried underneath aircraft destroy allied bombers variants named mark iii designed version essentially armored tube provided armament walter rocket engine power aircraft carried fuel approaches target rounds fuel attack intended pilot fighter ground deploy parachute land aircraft primitive landing gear designs completed cancellation wooden single constructed provide prone position training pilots cancelled lack funds interest mother aircraft jet engined aircraft intended purpose able flight tested war end variants design mark fuselage circular cross section small round window nose pilot vision millimeter armored shell protected fuselage pilot prone position cramped cockpit cross section square meters approximately quarter cross section millimeter bullet resistant glass screen mounted pilot small located sides fuselage pilot tanks surrounded pilot tank center section pilot engine aircraft straight wings mounted aircraft dorsal area wing mounts fuselage accommodate single cannon writers rounds walter single chamber rocket engine mounted beneath aft fuselage carried twin fin parachute housing landing aircraft required extension retractable landing deployment braking parachute pilots access plane hatch cockpit pilot enter attached carrier way escape case emergency attached carrier second design similar mark aside larger having smaller fins variant planned deeper shorter fuselage high mid wing layout powered walter engine unit rated thrust quarter way nose fuselage deepened form extended tail housed single cannon rounds iii design similar mark aside larger preceding variants circular cross section previous variants triangular millimeter cannon replaced rockets unspecified type landing procedure unchanged hatch added provide simpler pilot entry exit specifications data aircraft luftwaffe illustrated history general characteristics crew pilot length meters wingspan meters height meters weight loaded weight max takeoff weight powerplant rocket performance maximum speed kilometers hour mph armament guns millimeter cannon rockets
Arado E.381