                  ME263A-1 as configured by Keith Heitmann

This modified plane file goes best with the ME163B.


     "The Germans were developing a newer version of their rocket fighter
concept. The plane was originally designed by Junkers but the design
was handed over to Messerschmitt and the official designation was changed
to Me263. The Me263 had the same overall appearance of the Me163, except
for a slightly elongated fuselage and a bubble canopy.

     The Me263 had a more powerful rocket motor that gave the plane a
higher top speed of 620 mph between 10,000 and 20,000 feet. The main
armament was moved from the wing roots to the fuselage on this newer
model since the slightly enlarged fuselage of the Me263 allowed for this
and an increase of fuel that allowed the plane to operate under power 
or up to 15 mins.

     My conversion reflects this model and has two MK108 30mm cannon
mounted in the fuselage with 75 rounds per gun making a total of 150 rounds.
The plane's top speed has been boosted to 620 mph. I've also chosen to make
the increased fuel capacity available in main and auxiliary tanks. So a hit
to the main fuel tank will no longer cost you all of your fuel.

     Since this model never saw active duty, I've chosen to add the
Jadgfaust 500 vertically launched rockets to the outer wing rack as an
optional item. It probably would have been added to the Me263 just as it had
been added to the Me163. The next extrapolation I made was to add gun pods
under each wing for an optional MK103 30mm cannon with a total of 60 rounds.
Since the trend was to put heavier guns on German planes near the end of
the war the possibility that this weapon might have been added to the Me263
was good. You will have the choice of the Jadgfaust 500 or the MK103 since
they both are mounted on the outer panel."  
                                        
                                        Keith Heitmann, Prodigy ID# GVXV90A

