Me 163 Komet - "Rocket Powered Interceptor"

The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet was a rocket-powered interceptor aircraft. It is the only operational rocket-powered fighter aircraft in history. The aircraft had incredible speed for its day being the first piloted aircraft of any type to exceed 1,000 KPH (620 mph) in level flight. The prototype first flew on September 1, 1941. Due to the impressive performance it was quickly decided to develop the aircraft into full-scale production as the Me 163B. By 1944, the Me 163B began flying operational missions to defend against incoming allied bombing raids. The nature of the rocket motor to quickly consume fuel meant the Komet had a very limited powered flight duration of approximately 7.5 to maybe 9 minutes depending on how well the pilot was able to conserve fuel. The Me 163 had no permanent undercarriage. A two-wheeled trolley was affixed to the bottom of the aircraft for takeoff and was jettisoned shortly after the Komet became airborne. For landing, there was a skid which was deployed on the bottom of the fuselage. The rocket motor was powered by two highly toxic chemicals which spontaneously ignited when coming into contact with each other. T-stoff (stabilised high test peroxide) and C-stoff (hydrazine hydrate and methanol). Both substances were highly corrosive and volatile which necessitated extreme caution when handling. Contact with C-stoff causes severe damage or death upon skin contact, inhalation or ingestion. T-stoff  is highly toxic, corrosive, and dangerous, causing severe chemical burns, toxic fumes, and could dissolve human flesh and organic material on contact. Both requiring specialized protective rubber suits for handling. Flight accidents with the Me 163 could prove fatal to the pilot if fuel was released and came into contact with the pilot. The Me 163 was armed with twin 30 mm cannon. A typical interception mission had the aircraft taking off and quickly entering into a steep climb. It could reach 30,000 feet altitude in under 3 minutes – a phenomenal time for its day. Allied bomber crews often reported seeing the "small fiery comet" shoot straight up past their formations. Komets would typically only have an opportunity of one or two passes at bomber formations before running out of fuel. Once the fuel supply was expended, the Komet would glide back to base. They were most vulnerable to fighter attack during this phase of flight. During its operational career, the Me 163 downed between 10 and 18 enemy bombers for the loss of 10 of its own.  There are 10 known Me 163 Komets which survive today in museums around the world.