The BV P.208.03 was the final design for a series
of tailless aircraft designs by Blohm und Voß. A single Daimler Benz
12-cylinder DB 603L engine with a two-stage supercharger (2100 HP with MW
50 methanol-water injection) was imbedded within the fuselage aft of the
cockpit. The engine drove a pusher propeller and was fed by an air intake
located on the starboard side of the fuselage, with the radiator mounted
beneath the fuselage. However, the piston engine was not an essential
feature of this design but was only used when it became apparent that the
original proposed turbojet would not be ready in time, so work was continued
with the DB 603 engine substituted. The cantilevered wings were swept back
at 30 degrees and were of a constant cross section. Downturned wingtips were
connected aft of the main wing trailing edge by small booms, which served
the purposes of elevators and rudders. The practicality of this control method
was tested by Blohm und Voß by modifying the experimental Skoda-Kauba
V-6 (see photo below), which was renamed and flown as the Skoda-Kauba SL-6.
A tricycle undercarraige was used, with the wide-track main wheels retracting
inwards into the center section and the nosewheel retracting forwards. All
armament was in the aircraft's nose, and consisted of three MK 108 30mm cannon.
model photo of the BV P.208.03
Span: 12.08 m (39' 8") Length: 9.2 m (30' 2.5") Max. Speed: 790 kp/h (491 mph)
The BV P.208.02 utilized an Argus As 413 engine (the BV P.208.01 used
a Jumo 222E engine) to drive its pusher propeller, and the radiator was larger
and located more forward than the P.208.03. Also, small vertical fins were
mounted at the trailing edge of the wingtip booms.
A photo of the Skoda-Kauba V-6, which was modified into the SL-6 in order
to test the control arrangement for the BV P.208.03....
A three-view drawing of the Skoda-Kauba SL-6 (a modified SK V-6), used to test the control arrangements of the BV P.208.03....