What is Messerschmitt Me 163?
{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin |name = Messerschmitt Me 163 |image = File:Messerschmitt Me 163 V8 on the ground.jpg |caption = }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type |type = [[Fighter aircraft]] |manufacturer = [[Messerschmitt]] |designer = |first flight = [[1941]] |introduction = [[1945]] |retired = 1945 (Luftwaffe) |primary user = [[Luftwaffe]] |number built = 370 |variants with their own articles = }}|} The '''Messerschmitt Me 163''' is a [[Germany|German]] [[military aircraft]] used during [[World War II]]. It was a [[rocket]]-powered aircraft. It was designed by Lippisch.<ref name=Best /> The plane weighed 4200 pounds when it was empty and almost 10,000 pounds when it was full. It could fly 560 miles per hour. During the last part of [[World War II]], Messerchmitts fought [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress|B-17 bomber]]s over Germany. About 18 B-17s were shot down and about 10 Messerschmitts were shot down.<ref name=Best /> The fuel the Messerschmitts used sometimes exploded.<ref name=Best>{{cite news|url=https://www.planeandpilotmag.com/article/rocket-planes/|publisher=Plane and Pilot Magazine|access-date=September 6, 2020|title=Plane Facts: Rocket Planes|date=February 25, 2020}}</ref> == Additional references == {{reflist}} * {{cite book|title=Axis Aircraft of World War II|first=David|last=Mondey|publisher=Chancellor Press, London|year=1996|isbn=1851529667}} {{military-stub}} [[Category:World War II German aircraft]] [[Category:German military aircraft]]