Blohm & Voss BV 141

what is it?

The Blohm & Voss BV 141 (originally the Ha 141) was an unorthodox tactical reconnaissance aircraft developed by the German aircraft manufacturer Blohm & Voss. It was notable for its uncommon structural asymmetry. Development commenced during 1937 in response to a Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM/German Aviation Ministry) specification seeking a new single-engine reconnaissance aircraft.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 piston engine with propeller · 17.5 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 368 km/htop speed
• range 1,900 kmwithout refuelling
• size 6,100 kgmax take-off weight
• built 38made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 88 years ago, in 1938.
• 🏎️Top speed is 2.8× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
• 🚗Wingspan of 17.5 m: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.
• 🌍Range of 1,900 km: 11× Amsterdam to Brussels.
• 🏔️Can fly 1.1× higher than Mount Everest (8,849 m).

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight

1938-02-25

number built

38

role

reconnaissance, light bomber

makers

Blohm+Voss

engines

1× BMW 801A

crew

3

length

14 m

wingspan

17.5 m

height

3.6 m

max take-off weight

6,100 kg

top speed

368 km/h

range

1,900 km

ceiling

10,000 m

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.