Focke-Wulf Fw 190 a

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A, alongside with the Messerschmitt Bf 109, is the best-known German fighter from the Second World War. The Fw 190, however, had a much higher lifting capacity and was better armoured, and therefore it was used not only as a classic day fighter, but also as a fighter-bomber, assault aircraft, and also as a night fighter. The Fw 190 A had good performance at low and medium ceilings, on which the double wasp BMW 801 engine performed excellently. Fw 190 A entered the operational service in August 1941 and quickly turned out to be a superior machine to the British fighters of that time. The Spitfire Mk V, which was then used by the RAF, only surpassed it in terms of the turn radius. For almost a year, the British had to deal with this extremely difficult opponent, until the introduction of the Spitfire Mk IX, which finally equalized these disparities. The Fw 190 A, however, remained a dangerous fighter, and its appearance on the Eastern Front resulted in a rapid increase in the number of Jagdwaffe aces. Due to the rugged and resistant engine, the armour of the cockpit and strong weaponry it was a real terror for the crews of Russian bombers and assault aircrafts. The book presents color profiles of the most popular versions of the aircraft.