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Back in the late 1930s when it appeared that the Nazis would rule the world, Germany decided it needed an observation plane that had great visibility to scout out targets. Bv submitted the Blohm und Voss Bv 141, which had an asymmetrical layout: a tail boom with a radial engine on one side, and a shorter crew compartment (complete with camera) that was almost entirely windscreens on the other. There were three prototypes built in 1938, the last one armed with two 7.92 mm machine guns firing forward and two firing rearward. The manufacturer also added racks for four 11 a-pound bombs.
The initial aircraft were considered underpowered, so an additional five Bv 141s were built with more powerful engines. Trials began in late 1941, and stopped in 1943 due to its low speed (compared with Allied fighters and bombers) and because the Luftwaffe needed !it more fighters to protect the Fatherland against around-the-clock allied bombing.
One of aviation's true oddities the BV 141 performed surprisingly well, but never saw operational service. Three prototypes of the BV 141 were made, before it went into limited production. Only a total of 23 were built.
The similar fuselage, but more conventional twin-engined layout of the Focke-Wulf Fw 189 won out in the end.
The initial aircraft were considered underpowered, so an additional five Bv 141s were built with more powerful engines. Trials began in late 1941, and stopped in 1943 due to its low speed (compared with Allied fighters and bombers) and because the Luftwaffe needed !it more fighters to protect the Fatherland against around-the-clock allied bombing.
One of aviation's true oddities the BV 141 performed surprisingly well, but never saw operational service. Three prototypes of the BV 141 were made, before it went into limited production. Only a total of 23 were built.
The similar fuselage, but more conventional twin-engined layout of the Focke-Wulf Fw 189 won out in the end.
