The FW-190’s radial engine could not hope to match the turbo supercharged engines of American fighters at high altitudes. That allowed them to escort American bombers to targets in Germany that fell within their enhanced range, and at least part of the way to those targets deeper inside Germany that lay beyond. Their range, already good, was extended even further by the use of drop tanks. The FW-190s supremacy over Germany’s skies was first challenged by the appearance of American P-38 Lightnings and P-47 Thunderbolts. That kind of versatility is what made the FW-190 one of the war’s best airplanes. And when it was equipped with 37mm cannons, it proved itself an exceptional tank buster. It was also an effective fast light bomber, capable of carrying a respectable 4000 bomb load. In addition to its fighter role, the FW-190 platform was well suited to a variety of other missions, such as reconnaissance and ground attack. That lasted until long range American fighter escorts finally became available to shepherd US bombers in 1944. Wading into the bomber formations, FW-190s inflicted heavy losses and established an ascendancy over German skies. Thus, when American bombers began conducting daylight raids into Germany, the FW-190s’ heavy armaments made it an excellent bomber destroyer. However, the Spitfire lacked the range to penetrate deep into Reich territory. It gained an ascendancy over enemy fighters that lasted until the Spitfire IX restored parity in July of 1942. It proved itself an excellent fighter airplane, and during the middle war years, was the best air to air fighter.
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The FW-190 was maneuverable, and heavily armed with a standard configuration of four 20mm cannon, plus two machine guns. So the FW-190 ended up replacing the Messerschmitt as Germany’s main fighter, with over 20,000 produced by war’s end. It also proved superior to the 109 in most tasks, except high altitude dog fighting. The huge radial engine, mounted up front, acted as extra shielding for the pilot, and could absorb far more damage than the Bf 109’s liquid cooled engine and still keep working. The FW-190 turned out to be more rugged than the 109.
However, once it was introduced in late 1941, the backup stole the show. It had been intended as backup and insurance against possible shortages in the liquid cooled Daimler engines that powered the Luftwaffe’s mainstay fighter, the Bf 109. It was a low wing fighter, powered by a BWW air cooled radial engine, first ordered in 1937. The Nazis brought radial engine fighter designs to their peak with the Focke-Wulf FW-190.
Aviation Art Hangar Attained the Peak of Radial Engine Fighter Designs
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