This was world’s first fighter jet, it reshaped the future of air warfare, not developed by US, UK, Russia, China, France, its top speed was…

In 1944, in the last stages of World War II, the Nazi Germany introduced a weapon to reshape the future of the air war.

According to reports, ME 262 could fly about 100 miles/hour faster than the American P-51 Mustang and at speeds up to 870 km/h. This speed advantage allowed German pilots to hit allied bombing planes and escape enemy fighters without responding. Their strong weapons contained rockets up to four 30 mm balls and rockets up to 24 R4m, which made it deadly to the formation of great bombardment.

The aircraft arrived in two main versions: the war model called Schwalbe (Swallow) and the warrior bombardment plane known as Sturmvogel (Stormbird). Stylish, sweeping winged design developed aerodynamics, a feature adopted by Jet fighters around the world.

Despite the groundbreaking speed and firepower, Me 262 had serious weaknesses. Twin Junkers Jumo 004 engines were unreliable and usually failed in the middle of the flight. The slow gas response made it dangerous during departure and landing, allowing allied pilots to hit vulnerable moments. In addition, Adolf Hitler’s demand for use as a bombardment plane postponed its production as a warrior and reduced its potential impact.

Allied pilots were stunned by 262. Many saw that he had passed, as if he was still still standing ”. But even the German pilots were afraid of the plane – engine problems and bad use made every flight a risky task.

Although it was too late to change the outcome of the war, Me 262 became the symbol of the future air war. Allied nations pushed their own jet hunter programs to accelerate and shaped the post -war aviation race.

Today, Me 262 no longer fly in military service, but a few copies built in the 2000s still appear in Airshows.