NOTE: RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
Although most commonly known as the V-1 flying bomb, the official name of the
vehicle was Fieseler Fi 103. The V-1 flying bomb was also known as the
buzz bomb, and doodlebug due to the sound its engine made.
The Fieseler Fi 103 was the world's first successful cruise missile. Rather than being powered by a rocket motor, it used a pulse jet for propulsion. This gave it greater ranger for its size than rocket motors were capable of at the time.
The flying bomb was launched from catapults and from aircraft by Germany against Allied targets. Due to the lack of accuracy of its primitive guidance system, it was used as a weapon against large populations, rather than as a battlefield weapon for tactical purposes.
The V-1 was especially difficult to bring down. It generally flew at altitudes between 2,000 and 3,000 feet at about 400 mph. This was a speed at relatively low altitudes matched by few aircraft of the time.
Even when intercepted by an aircraft, the V-1 had few vulnerable areas where hits would bring it down. There was no pilot, the engine housing and fuel tank were well armored, and the engine itself could take a great deal of punishment before being disabled.
The V-1 flew under the altitude where most large anti aircraft guns were effective, and just high enough so that it was at the maximum range of most smaller weapons.
Only about one in four flying bombs completed their flights. The majority were lost due to guidance system and mechanical failures, as well as anti aircraft defenses.
Approximately 30,000 Fieseler Fi 103 V-1 flying bomb aircraft were produced.
Specifications
Primary Function:
Crew:
Engine:
Thrust:
Weight Empty:
Max. Weight:
War Head:
Fuel:
Length:
Wingspan:
Max. Speed:
Initial Climb:
Ceiling:
Range:
First Flight:
Year Deployed:
Pictured above is the rc V-1 flying bomb
airplane from a Ron Daniels kit held by its builder, Christer
Landberg. The radio control airplane is 1/9 scale with a 27" wing span
and a 34" length. Christer powers his V-1 with an O.S. 10 engine. The radio
control airplane can also be powered by a Speed 400 size motor. All up
weight is 22 1/2 oz.
The first picture below is of a rc Fieseler Fi 103 built from Traplet Publications plans.
Wing span is 25". Traplet recommends that the V-1 flying bomb rc airplane is powered with a K&P EDF fan unit. Upon
completion it should weigh about 13 1/2 oz. The rc airplane is listed under Fieseler Fi.103 V1 Doodlebug plan MW2928.
The second picture below is of the K & A Models rc V-1 flying bomb. It has a wing span of 37".
K & A tells us best power comes from either a Mega 1615-3 or Hacker B 40 motor driving a Mini 480 or 505
fan. Weight is around 2 1/2 lbs. all up.
The bottom picture on this page is of a RC V-1 flying bomb built from My Uncle
Willies plans. The plans call for the radio control airplane to have
a wing span of 47" and a length of 56". The V-1 rc airplane is
described as "fun scale."
The radio control airplane pictured on this page has been scaled down
to 75% of plans. Power can come from an EDF or engine and prop.
If you have built a rc V-1 flying bomb / Fieseler Fi 103 or know of one that you can recommend, please email us.
V-1 Fieseler Fi 103
