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In 1942, the Luftwaffe issued a requirement for a new high-altitude fighter to counter expected American bomber formations operating above 24,000 feet. Focke-Wulf began designing what would eventually become the excellent Ta 152 fighter. Progress was so slow, however, that in July of 1943 a stopgap aircraft was ordered.
Focke-Wulf complied by adding the Junkers Jumo 213A in-line water-cooled engine, which had previously been used only in bombers, to an Fw 190 A–8 airframe. The nose was strengthened and lengthened to accommodate the engine, as was the rear fuselage. Armament consisted of two 20 mm cannons in the wings and two 13 mm machine guns above the engine. The Jumo 213A’s increased reliability and performance made the new Fw 190 D–9 superior to the previous models in climb, dive, and level speed.
Introduced in the summer of 1944, the first production model was designated the Fw 190 D–9 and was nicknamed the “Dora 9.” Also known as the Langnasen (Long Nose) for its stretched cowling, the new model would become popular with its pilots despite initial reluctance to what was viewed as a “bomber” engine. The Fw 190 D–9 was found to be more than a match for frontline fighters in several critical performance areas, such as speed and acceleration. As with the rest of the Luftwaffe, however, fuel shortages in the closing months of the war would restrict its use.
For pilots used to the cramped confines of the Messerschmitt Me 109, the Focke-Wulf was relatively roomy. The bubble canopy also offered better visibility. Painted a dark gray to reduce glare, the cockpit of the Dora 9 is very similar to other Fw 190 models and features the Kommandogerät mechanical “brain” that coordinated the operation of the throttle, mixture, and propeller pitch through the use of a single power lever. Combined with automated supercharger and oil-cooler controls, this system greatly reduced the workload on pilots in high-altitude maneuvering dogfights. At the front of the right side panel is an empty space that would have contained a clock—a highly popular item to be taken as a souvenir from aircraft and, thus, missing on many panels today. The red dots on the instruments are not original and indicate that they have been checked for radiation. The Revi gunsight is not present, but would be located at the top of the instrument panel, just right of center. The windscreen rear frame was not present when the aircraft was received, and so a wooden piece has been mocked up for display.
FW 190 D–9 ON DISPLAY AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE.
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