The German Messerschmidt Me-262 was the first operational jet fighter to see combat with an armed force. It was introduced into the skies in late 1944, and gave the Allied forces a huge shock. Not only was it much faster than propeller-driven aircraft (and without propellers! that was what stunned them), it could carry the phenomenal armament of four 30mm cannons (Rheinmetall-Borsig Mk. 108 30mm cannons), an armament unheard of at that time.
The Me-262 eventually spawned many variants: fighter, fighter-bomber, night-fighter and conversion trainer. This one below is the figher (Me-262A-1a) variant. (Handsome stuff. Wait it's a she...hot stuff.)
(Disclaimer: Although I like to fly WW II German aircraft in simulators, I am in no way affiliated with, and neither am I propagating the Nazi philosophy.)
On the ground: This is an aircraft of vJG Sturmvogel (virtual Fighter Squadron: Stormbird):
Interestingly, the squadron logo for vJG Sturmvogel reads: CCCP, Russia; but it has a "skull and crossbones" instead of the hammer and sickle. Nice piece of art from our talented gamers out there =P:
Inside the cockpit: I'm looking slightly down so the instrument panel and some of the aircraft controls can be seen:
Lining up the gunsight!
These are the flames from the jet units at 100% power. You will not want to be "standing around" or "stoning around" when these fire up. Of course, full wheel brakes:
This is the effect of the jet efflux:
And we're rolling!
In level flight:
Banking to the right (nice scenery, don't ya think ok focus on the plane in the scenery yep that's it):
Streaking up to the heavens!!
A "got ya in the sights" nose-on view. You never want to see this in your rear-view mirror!
And we carry on our journey...
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