After the success of the 1940 airborne assaults involving the DFS 230, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM/German Aviation Ministry) invited the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug/DFS and Gotha to submit plans for a larger capacity glider.[2] The result was the DFS 231, a twenty-seat troop designed by Hans Jacobs, who had previously produced the successful, nine seat DFS 230.[3]
DFS 331 | |
---|---|
Role | Troop glider |
Manufacturer | DFS/Gotha |
Designer | Hans Jacobs |
First flight | 30 September 1940[1] |
Number built | 1 |
The visibility from the cockpit was good, with the entire nose being glazed, and the body was very wide, allowing it to carry light Flak guns and small military vehicles. A single prototype, the V1, was built and flown in 1941. The best glide ratio, at fully loaded weight, was 17.5.[2] The project was passed over in favour of the Gotha Go 242.[3]
Data from Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933-1945,[4] German gliders in World War II[5]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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