Second, it is a manned flight which is under discussion.
But at least one writer has discounted such high performance
(23). It is argued that the large frontal area of one of the
possible designs in question makes Mach 2 flight impossible. The
argument seems to be that given the possible power plants the
atmospheric resistance caused by this frontal area would slow the
craft to a point below the figures stated earlier.
Some new information has come to light regarding the propulsion
system which supports the original assessment. Although actual
construction had not started, wind-tunnel and design studies
confirmed the feasibility of building a research aircraft which
was designated Project 8-346. This aircraft was not a saucer but
a modern looking swept-back wing design. According this post-war
Allied intelligence report, the Germans designed the 8-346 to fly
in the range of 2000 kilometers per hour to Mach 2. (24).
Interestingly enough, it was to use two Walther HWK109 rocket
engines. This is one of the engine configurations under
consideration for the Schriever-Habermohl saucer project.
As an aside, it should be noted that there are those who will
resist at any attempt to impugn the official breaking of the
sound barrier by Chuck Yeager in 1947 in the Bell X-l rocket
aircraft. They had better brace themselves. This record has
also been challenged from another direction. This challenge was
reported in February, 2001, by the Associated Press, Berlin. It
seems that a certain Hans Guido Mutke claims he pushed his
Messerschmitt jet fighter, the Me-262, through the sound barrier
in 1945. This occurred during an emergency dive to help another
German flyer during air combat. At that time he experienced
vibrations and shaking of the aircraft. According to the report,
a Hamburg Professor is working on a computer simulation in order
to check the validity of this claim.
Returning to the topic at hand, Schriever continued to work on
the project until April 15, 1945. About this time &rv0