The EWR VJ 101 was an experimental German jet fighter vertical take-off & landing (VTOL) tilt-jet aircraft.
The VJ 101 was one of the first V/STOL designs to have the potential for eventual Mach 2 flight.
A pair of prototype aircraft, collectively known as the VJ 101 C and individually known as the X-1 and X-2, were constructed and participated in a five-year test program.
The intention was for the VJ 101 to eventually be developed as the basis for a successor for the German Air Force’s inventory of American Lockheed F-104G Starfighter interceptors.
However, development of the VJ 101 C was greatly complicated by the changing requirements of the BMVg, who decided to transform the aircraft’s envisioned mission profile from the interceptor role to a more general fighter instead, greatly changing the performance requirements for it to fulfil.
During 1968, development of the VJ 101 was ultimately cancelled.
Specifications
Crew
1
Length
15.7 m (51 ft 6 in)
Wingspan
6.61 m (21 ft 8 in)
Height
4.1 m (13 ft 5 in)
Max take-off weight
6,000 kg (13,228 lb) for VTOL
(X-2 ; 8,000 kg (17,637 lb) MTOW for VTOL with reheated wingtip engines)
