Germany · WWII (1939–1945)
Open in interactive gallery →See aircraft like this on the live radar →The Focke-Wulf Ta 400 was a German six-engine long-range bomber design — Focke-Wulf's Amerikabomber proposal alongside the Messerschmitt Me 264 + Junkers Ju 390. Kurt Tank designed the Ta 400 in 1943-1944; no prototypes were built before programme cancellation. The aircraft existed only as detailed engineering drawings + a wind-tunnel model. The Ta 400 represents Focke-Wulf's contribution to Luftwaffe Amerikabomber concept studies.
The Ta 400 design used 6 × BMW 801E radial engines (1,800 hp each) + 2 × Junkers Jumo 004 turbojet engines for high-altitude boost (an unusual combined piston + jet propulsion arrangement). Projected maximum speed 620 km/h, projected range 11,800 km, service ceiling 12,000 m. Projected bomb load 10,000 kg. The aircraft was specifically designed as a transatlantic long-range bomber capable of attacking American east coast targets from European bases + returning without refuelling.
Ta 400 development was cancelled in late 1944. Luftwaffe priorities shifted to fighter production; the Reich Air Ministry concluded Amerikabomber concepts had no realistic in-service use given Germany's declining war position. The wind-tunnel model + engineering drawings survived to be captured by Allied forces 1945; some Ta 400 design elements influenced postwar Allied long-range bomber research. The Ta 400 is one of the most-detailed Amerikabomber proposals never built.
The Focke-Wulf Ta 400 was a German bomber design from World War Two. A designer named Kurt Tank drew up plans for it in 1943 and 1944. It was never actually built. Only drawings and a small wind-tunnel model were ever made.
This plane was meant to fly all the way across the Atlantic Ocean. Germany wanted a bomber that could reach the east coast of America and fly back home without stopping for fuel. That would have been an amazing feat for any aircraft of that era.
The Ta 400 was designed with eight engines in total. Six of them were big piston engines, and two were jet engines for extra power at high altitude. This mix of engine types was very unusual for its time.
The plane was planned to carry up to 10,000 kg of bombs. Its projected range was 11,800 km, which is longer than the distance from New York to London and back. It could have flown as fast as 620 km/h and as high as 12,000 m.
The project was cancelled in late 1944. Germany needed fighter planes more than big bombers by that point. So the Ta 400 never left the drawing board.
No, the Ta 400 never flew at all. No real plane was ever built. Engineers only made detailed drawings and a small model for wind-tunnel testing.
It needed lots of power to carry heavy bombs across the Atlantic Ocean. Six big piston engines gave it strong thrust, and two jet engines gave extra boost at high altitude. That made it one of the most powerful bomber designs of its time.
By late 1944, Germany needed fighter planes much more than giant bombers. Leaders decided the long-range bombing plan was not realistic anymore. So the whole project was shut down.
Its planned range was 11,800 km without stopping for fuel. That is longer than the distance from London to Los Angeles. It was designed to reach America and fly all the way back to Europe.
Combined cruise + altitude-boost propulsion. The 6 piston engines provided efficient cruise propulsion for the long transatlantic legs; the 2 turbojets provided altitude-boost for combat operations + escape from intercepting fighters. The combined arrangement was novel — most contemporary long-range bombers used either all-piston (American B-29) or all-jet (postwar) propulsion. The Ta 400's hybrid approach reflected Kurt Tank's attempt to combine the range of piston aircraft with the speed of jets.
Largest projected of the three main programmes. The Ta 400 (Focke-Wulf, 6-piston + 2-jet, never built) was larger than the Messerschmitt Me 264 (4-piston, 3 prototypes 1942-1944) + comparable in size to the Junkers Ju 390 (6-piston, 2 prototypes 1943-1944). All three programmes were cancelled before in-service deployment. None achieved transatlantic combat role.