Heinkel He 277
The Heinkel He 277 was a four-engine, long-range heavy bomber design, originating as a derivative of the He 177, intended for production and use by the German Luftwaffe during World War II. The main difference was in its engines. While the He 177 used four engines in two coupled pairs which proved troublesome, the He 277 was intended to use four unitized BMW 801E 14-cylinder radial engines, in single nacelle installations.
| He 277 | |
|---|---|
| Representation of the aircraft. | |
| Role | Heavy Bomber/Amerikabomber, |
| Manufacturer | Heinkel, received RLM airframe number by February 1943 |
| Status | cancelled in April 1944 |
| Primary user | Luftwaffe |
| Number built | none completed, only parts built |
| Developed from | Heinkel He 177 |
The design was never produced and no prototype airframe was completed. The deteriorating condition of the German aviation industry late in the war and the competition from other long-range bomber designs from other firms, led to the design being cancelled.
Although not intended for it at first, the He 277 design became Heinkel's entry in the Amerikabomber programme for a long range bomber that could reach North America.