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Lippisch-DM1 - $$5.50

The Lippisch DM-1 was an unpowered glider designed to test the low speed handling of the to be developed Lippisch P.13a. The glider itself was externally similar to the P.13a, with a large delta wing and half delta vertical stabilizer, which housed the cockpit.

Lippisch DM-1 Glider - Downloadable Cardmodel

Lippisch DM-1 Glider Testbed for the Supersonic Ram-Jet WWII Fighter P13a

Lippisch DM-1 Glider

The last desperate attempts by the Luftwaffe to stop the Allied bomber streams were exemplified by the demand: fighters, fighters, fighters - quick and simple to build, cheap and from easily accessible materials, small dimensions, superior speed compared to enemy escort fighters and firepower. Nearly all aircraft manufacturers and designers in the Third Reich put designs to paper along these lines.

Even Dr. Lippisch's ideas during the last year of the war fit into this concept. Of his numerous variants, the Lippisch 13a was actually given serious consideration. This model, the Lippisch DM-1 was the test-bed for the very advanced -but never to be built-supersonic P13a Fighter.



What people say...

From Bill Pace:


1. Like with the Pa-13a, I first connected the upper seam, starting at the
nose and working toward the back. It has a slight convex shape.

2. Then I attached the cockpit/fin business. Leaving the trailing edge
open, I bent the tabs over in their slots and glued them down. Then I
glued the other tabs down beginning with the front. I sealed the trailing edge
just before gluing the after-most tabs down.

3. Then I glued the underside together, starting from the front. The nose
has a pretty good shape to it, considering the compound curvature.

4. Next I glued the trailing edges of the wings together. One of the
trailing edge tabs says don't score but it should say do score. (fixed)

5. I sandwiched thick, stiff cardboard in the landing gear struts,
darkened the wheel wells and inside the doors, and cut slots in the wings to insert
the struts. They were way too long so I cut them off shorter to look like the 3-view.(fixed)
The LG's are a little wobbly.

6. The tread strips for the tires were about 1/16" or 3/32" too
long to match the circumference of the wheels so I had to correct that. I always
check to see if treads match their tires. (fixed)

7. I used a round toothpick, painted gray, for the probe.

8. I used the stand, showing the plane tilted a little toward the earth as
if hurtling to its destruction. I think Leutnant Schnitzelgruber needed
to flatten out his glide path a little. The stand (the way I used it) seemed
to have its label upside down, but maybe I just mounted the plane
backwards. (fixed)

The whole model looks fine to me and makes a nice companion piece to the
coal-burner. They make me want to build a Siebel 204a to carry them
skyward. The only problem is with the landing gear. They could have a
more secure way of attaching them to the wings. And they need more stiffness
where the wheels are attached. (we recommend building with #110 cardstock for
wheel attachment and hot melt glue for attaching the LG to the wings. Truth be
known, we think the model looks best with NO landing gear at all:)


 


Lippisch DM-1 Glider

Lippisch DM-1 Glider in flightIn 1937 Doctor Alexander Lippisch assumed the leadership of a design team developing the RLM's Projekt X, which was eventually to become the Me 163 rocket-powered interceptor. Five years later he left the project, just as the first Komet production prototypes were being completed, to lead another research team consisting of students of aircraft construction from Darmstadt and Munich universities.

Working with the help of the DFS on a program intended to lead to the development of a fast interceptor, Lippisch and the students produced a series of revolutionary aircraft, designated with a DM prefix in recognition of the two universities. The DM-1 Experimental Glider prototype of the P-13a Supersonic Fighter was found in an incomplete state at the end of the war by the Americans.

Construction work had started on the DM-1 flying testbed in November 1944. A pure delta with 60 swept leading edges, it was to be used initially as a glider to investigate flight characteristics of this unique configuration. Fin and rudder shape mirrored that of the wings, and the pilot was accommodated in a cockpit at the base of the fin.


It was originally intended to carry the DM-1 on the back of a Siebel Si 204 to a height of 25,900 ft, from which it would dive to an anticipated speed of 348 mph. At a later stage the DM- 1 was to be flown at a speed of 497 mph under the power of a rocket motor. At the other end of the speed range, the aerodynamic characteristics of this little single-seat aircraft were such that a landing speed of only 44 mph was expected.
Lippisch DM-1 Glider  and the Siebel 204a
The Si 204 with the Lippisch DM-1 Glider
Lippisch DM-1 Glider  and the Siebel 204a

Diagram of the Mistal style planned DM-1 launching from a Siebel 204A


It was the end of the war that prevented further development beyond this un powered DM-1 test glider. The Americans shipped the prototype back to the USA for completion and flight testing, and the resulting data were incorporated into the design of the many US delta-wing aircraft. After the war, Lippisch, working with American aircraft designer Convair, developed and tested the XF-92 based on his designs, leading to the eventual adoption of the F-102 Delta Dagger and its successor, the F-106 Delta Dart.

Lippisch DM-1 Glider  anLippisch DM-1 Glider
Lippisch DM-1 Glider  anLippisch DM-1 rudder
Shop photo of the Lippisch DM-1 Glider rudder
Lippisch DM-1 Glider in shop
Lippisch DM-1 Glider
Front views of the Lippisch DM-1 under construction
Lippisch DM-1 Glider after testing
This front view offers a sense of 'cute' to this little aircraft
Lippisch DM-1 Glider  with Heinemann
Photo of Dr. Lippisch's able assistant, Wolfgang Heinemann standing next to the DM-1
Lippisch DM-1 flying Glider
Your cardmodel of the Lippisch DM-1 will fly great when launched using a large rubber band !!
Lippisch Glider variations
Two variations of the DM-1 proposed by Dr Lippisch

 

Around Christmas 1944, a full-scale piloted prototype, known as the DM 1 (DM - Darmstadt München Entwurf 1, the first project and the location of its development), was under construction at Prien on Lake Chiemsee in Bavaria. For actual flight testing, the DM 1 was to be mounted on top of a Siebel 204A carrier aircraft.

When Allied tanks appeared on the air field at Prien on May 3, 1945, the aircraft was nearly complete. NinetyFW-Triebflugel days after the end of the war in Europe, August 6, 1945, the Americans proposed finishing the project and test-flying the prototype atop a Douglas DC-3. However, by the time the DM 1 was completed a few weeks later, the group was ordered to transfer the experimental aircraft to the United States for proper evaluation. In January 1950, the DM 1 became the property of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) and was transferred to their storage facility outside Washington, DC.

"Triebflugel" project of Focke-Wulf. (image right)..This was a separate helicopter-like vertical takeoff aircraft with everything else operating as with a flying wing. The ramjet operated by itself only after a certain speed had been reached. This process involved ram air entering in through an opening in the front, being mixed with fuel, compressed, ignited and forced out the back.


Lippisch-DM1
View showing how the simple canopy of the Lippisch DM-1 hinged up and away.

Plastic Lippish  DM-1
Photos of a plastic model of the Lippisch DM-1 Glider
Plastic Lippish P-13a
At the end of the war not even the prototype DM-1 test glider had not been finished when it was captured by US forces. It was ordered to be completed by Lippisch's team and was then shipped to the USA where it was test-flown. Reportedly the results were very positive and lessons learned were incorporated into NASA's research aircraft of the 1950s and on. The Americans shipped the prototype back to the USA for completion and flight testing, and the resulting data were incorporated into the design of the many US delta-wing aircraft which appeared in subsequent years.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:


Alexander Lippisch was born Nov. 2, 1894 into a highly cultured family. His father was a creative artist and Alexander apparently took after his father in art as well as music. During his early youth he became interested in flying after observing the flights of the Wright bothers in 1909. He was drafted by the by the military in early 1915 and in the fall became ill with pneumonia. After recovering he got a job in aerial surveying with the army. In 1918 heDr. Lippisch was discharged from the army and got a job in the Zeppelin factory where he was appointed to work under Mr. Claude Dornier. Here he studied the new science of aerodynamics and worked there until the armistices was signed in 1918.


After the war, Lippisch was out of a job and returned home until 1921 when he worked on sailplanes. During the 1920's he was involved in the design and construction of many sailplanes and gliders. Included were many unusual designs and swept wing configurations. These designs led to the tailless aircraft and the delta wing configuration which Lippisch felt was the configuration of the future.


Although he never went to college he learned engineering from his work at the Zeppelin factory under the Claude Dornier. He also conferred with Professor Ludwig Prandtl one of the foremost aerodynamics of his time. Based on the work with the delta wing and tailless airplanes he wrote his Doctor Dissertation to earn his degree.

The delta wing and tailless designs led the aircraft using the Walter liquid-fueled rocket engine. Lippisch was in charge of the airframe design and Walter was in charge of the engine. The airplane was designated the Me 163. According to German records 364 Me 163 were built. The airplane was far ahead of its time and was aerodynamic clean and was very fast achieving a Mach number of approximately 0.8 in level flight. Due to personality difficulties Lippisch left Messerschmitt and went to another German research institute at in 1943 Vienna. Austria. Here he worked on designs of advance aircraft including configurations for operation at Mach numbers above 1.0.

At the end of the war he left Germany and came to the USA under operation paper clip along with other German engineers and scientists. Here he worked for the Navy and finally for Collins Radio. Here his work was supported by the Office of Naval Research and included design work on various wingless and other aircraft including ground effect machines.


In reviewing the work and life of Alexander Lippisch it became apparent that his work was very creative and much ahead of its time. He apparently was not bothered by theoretical considerations but was more interested in the overall picture. Like the Wright brothers whom he admired; much or his work was cut and try based on an the overall need. As Lippisch was a product of a different time period his life and work can not be compared with those of the present time. For this reason he can not be judged based on present day standards but must be judged based on his accomplishment of the time.

Reference: Al, The Cedar Rapids Gazette: August 1 to 8 1978. "Alexander Lippisch Man of the Future"


Lippisch DM-1 Assembly details
Assembly details for the Lippisch DM-1

Specifications

Lippisch DM-1 Glider three view

Crew: one brave pilot
Length: 22ft
Wingspan: 19ft 9in
Height: 10 ft 8 in
Loaded wt: 5,060 lb