Built as a long-range bomber, the prototype of the He 177 Greif (griffon) was first flown on November 19, 1939. With no engine in the 2,000-hp class available, Daimler-Benz close-coupled two DB-601s to produce the 2,600-hp DB 606, and two of these units were used to power the He 177. The airplane design's other unusual feature was twin main landing gear units on each side, these retracting sideways into the wing, inboard and outboard for each engine nacelle. This airplane had many early teething problems with at least three prototypes being lost in accidents resulting from wing structural weakness or engine fires. The structural problems were soon rectified, but overheating of the coupled engine units, which occasionally caused engine fires, was never completely resolved. Early production versions of the airplane were delivered in July of 1942. French and German-based He 177s took part in operations against targets in the UK during Operation Steinbock and saw service on the Eastern Front. The aircraft had been virtually withdrawn from service by the end of 1944. One noteworthy but uncompleted airplane was a single example under modification in Prague to accommodate the planned German atomic bomb. The He 177 had a maximum speed of 304 mph at 19,685 feet, service ceiling of 26,245 feet, and a range of 3,417 miles with two H5 293 missiles. Airplane armament was three 31-caliber MG 81 and three 51-caliber MG 131 machine guns and two 20-mm MG 151/20 cannon, plus 2,205 lbs. of bombs internally and two Henschel Hs 293 missiles under the wings.

All airplane models are Hand Carved, Hand Painted Mahogany and come fully assembled with removable desk stand.

Dimensions: Wingspan 22 1/2", -Length 14 1/2", -Scale 1/55,

Item #AM260-AR - Air Corps Price $154.95

• Check our ordering information page for UPS shipping charges •

Order Toll Free 800-252-0031

This department is part of the Wonders Never Cease / Clem & Company store