The Heinkel HE178

The HE178 although not a successful aircraft was the world's first turbojet aircraft. It was developed as a private venture by Ernst Heinkel to test Hans Von Hain's new turbojet powerplant. It first flew on the 24th August 1939. Although two prototypes were built only the first (the V1) ever flew. The aircraft had an aluminium fuselage and wooden wings with retractable undercarriage although these were locked down for the early test flights a practise which is still common today.

The HE178 suffered from a lack of power which meant that official interest was minimal as piston engine fighters already in service were faster than the unarmed HE178. It did however prove the viability of the turbojet in much the same way as the E28/39 did in England which was also unarmed. The HE178 V1 was sent to the Air Museum in Berlin following the end of test flights but was destroyed in an allied air raid in 1943.