When in 1939 broke the World War II, the plane was already a very important factor in the battle. Ever since the Wright brothers’ aircraft industry has come a long way to go. Gradually, improved design, new technical solutions developed by Optimal tactics of air fighting. In the late thirties, the designers have come to a certain standard in the layout of the airframe, which is the maximum extent possible to satisfy the various, often quite contradictory, requirements of the aircraft. Nearly all appeared at that time fighters (or bombers) basically repeated one scheme. Was it the Hurricanes, “Spitfire”, “Yakovlev” or Bf 109 – the concept has remained the same. And when the airframe reached perfection, the only element of the aircraft, capable of further development, was the engine.

Various reciprocating engines reigned in the air almost half a century. From the very first primitive designs, develops power of a few tens of horsepower, for a war they were brought thousand hp monsters. The following six years further accelerate their development – a war usually stimulate technological progress, and 1939-45. were not from this point of view exception. At the end of the war power piston engines has doubled in relation to the time of its beginning. Speed-equipped fighters increased over this period from 550 km / h to 730 km / hour. And this does not take into account the aircraft, equipped with specially trained motors that their achievements could simply turn the head.

The leaders in this area in the late thirties, were the Germans. Mastering the world speed record for aircraft built in Germany was for Hitler a matter of prestige. The Third Reich was supposed to look in the eyes of the whole of Europe the country with the largest scientific, industrial and military potential, that ultimately correspond to reality. The world’s fastest plane was supposed to confirm this fact. The first such machine was the Messerschmitt »Bf 109 V13. November 11, 1937 pilot Herman Vyurster reached her average speed of 610.95 km / hr. Eighteen months later – March 30, 1939 – Hans Dieterle at Heinkels not exceed 100 V8 is reaching more than 130 km / h, reaching 746.606 mph. The third German records, Fritz Wendel on Me 209 VI in July 1939 flew at a speed of 755.14 km / h! And we must remember that this rate is the average of the four flights of fixed-route, and in one of these aircraft has a top speed 782 km / h! Motors listed vehicles have been specially boosted to achieve maximum power. DB-601R-III, mounted on the Bf 109 V13, developed a 1250 kW (1700 hp) and DB-601R-V on two other planes – 2036 kW (2770 hp) Obviously, after each flight engine could take a wreck.

During the preparation of aircraft to record flight revealed that the increase in engine power does not lead to a proportional increase in speed. Growth of power at 1000 hp called the gain in speed of 50-60 km / hour. At the end of the war serial machines are already flying about the same speed as the Me 209 VI or not 100 V8. However, this was the limit of their capabilities. It was only the P-47J Thunderbolt company managed to cross the line Ripablik 800 km / h, and that was all. Calculations showed that for single-seat fighter, which develops speed of 1000 km / h, requires engine power 12200 hp! Its mass would have been more than six tons, and the weight of the whole machine – 15 tons. Further improvement in performance, in particular, the maximum speed, could not be achieved without radical changes in the driving part. Certain expectations served turboprop engines, which appeared at the end of the war, but the greatest prospects lurking in jet engines.

When jet engines were still very unreliable, and the screw kept quite confidently, designers started to try to overcome its limitations. It was suggested to use hybrid power plant, in which the piston engine is central, but an additional rocket engine (turbojet engines for this purpose would have been too big and heavy) ensure the rapid increase in power if necessary – for example, during the interception of enemy bombers. This idea was particularly developed in the USSR, where they built most of the planes with this dual drive. You can think of another pre-war experiments with I-152 and I-153 with pulsating engines under the wings. Then similar engines appeared on the experimental Yak-7PVRD, La 7PVRD, La 126PVRD (La-7 with motors WFD-430), La-9RD … Also, Soviet fighter jets with a combined drive began to be equipped with rocket engines. There were appropriate versions of classic cars – the Yak-3RD, Su-7R and La-7R. Was worked out as the concept of a jet engine, the effect of which was based on the use of a piston engine to drive the compressor, which in turn handed the air located on the combustion chamber. Injected into her fuel ignited and thereby get additional traction. The device became known as accelerator Holoshevnikova. With him flying Su-5 and built a small series of I-250 Mikoyan.

In the development of mixed driving role played by designers from other countries. He is famous built in small quantities American aircraft FR-1 Fireball firm Ryan. However, this type of aircraft, went down in history, became a German car.

27 August 1937 a pilot copy of the Heinkel 112 is not equipped than conventional piston engines and rocket engines yet, went to the historic flight. The cabin was the test pilot Erich Varzits. He first flew on 112 not rocket engine in the rear, but it is safe to say that this was the most important mission. Varzits started, circled over the airfield and landed – no running piston engine! The first in the history of aviation manned flight without the aid of screws.