Focke Wolf Fw 190A-8 Sturmbock
The Fw 190 was probably the best German propeller-driven fighter of the war, except that its performance fell off significantly above 20,000 feet. Easy to fly and a far better confidence-builder than the twitchy Bf 109, the Fw 190 had an impressive rate of roll, excellent responsiveness, and the ability to carry varied armament and still provide superior performance. All this spelled success for many inexperienced pilots. Unlike many other radial-engined fighters, the 190 not only worked well, but looked good, and was the first fighter to offer a clear view canopy for good all-around vision. Its basic armament of two 13-mm machine guns and four 20 mm cannon made it a formidable weapon; when gunned up to attack heavy bombers, its Sturmbock variant could bring the heavy firepower of 30-mm cannon and 21-cm rockets to bear with devastating effect.
Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8 Sturmbock
Weight: 7,055 / 10,800 lbs (3,200 / 4,900 kg)
Span: 34' 5½" (10.49 m)
Length: 29 ft (8.84 m)
Engine(s): BMW 801D-2 14-cyl radial air-cooled, 1,700 hp
Armament: Two 13-mm MG131 machine guns & four 20 mm MG 151 cannon; A-8/U11 carried one 550-lb bomb or four 110-lb bombs. Two 13 mm machine guns over engine and four 20 mm cannon in wings pack a heavy punch. Sturmbock variant substitutes 30 mm cannon, and adds 21 cm rockets under wings.
Max Speed @ Altitude: 408 mph (653 km/h) @ 20,600 ft (6,283 m)
Ceiling: 37,400 ft (11,410 m)
Climb Rate: 2,350 ft (717 m)/min
Range: 560 mi (900 km)
