Blohm & Voss BV 238

At the start of the Second World War, the design team at the German aircraft manufacturer Blohm & Voss were largely preoccupied by the development of the BV 222 Wiking, a large six-engined flying boat. However, during 1940, the firm's designer opted to start work on an even larger flying boat under the designation P 200 that would be suitable for the future long distance routes (particularly transatlantic ones) of the German flag carrier Deutsche Luft Hansa. Furnished with eight engines, this vast flying boat was anticipated to have had a loaded weight of , a range of and a passenger capacity of 120. During January 1941, work on the P.200 proposal was suspended in order to focus on the fulfilment of a new request issued by the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM/German Aviation Ministry) for a long range multipurpose flying boat. In the following months, the design team worked on an initial four-engined design for what would become the BV 238, however, it was abandoned by mid 1941 due to the lengthy timescale involved in developing suitable domestic engines to power it. Instead, in July 1941, work commenced on a fresh design that, while being considerably larger than the BV 222, shared numerous features as well as its general layout. This design was warmly received and a development order calling for the completion of four prototypes was promptly issued to the firm. While its similarities to the BV 222 meant that some useful data could be obtained from this existing flying boat, it was felt that some aspects were too dissimilar for this arrangement to be fully sufficient. Accordingly, an approximately quarter-scale model of the BV 238 was commissioned to test the long and slim hull design, which was largely original. Built by the Flugtechnische Fertigungsgemeinschaft GmbH (FGP) in Prague and designated FGP 227, this scale model did not arrive (as a result of several factors, including sabotage and damage sustained during its maiden flight) until September 1944, too late to contribute any data to the program. During 1942, the construction of the various jigs and components for the BV 238 commenced; fabrication of the first hull started in January 1944. Although extensive defensive armament was planned, the first prototype, BV 238 V1, lacked any upon its completion in March 1945 (these armaments were planned to be installed at a later date). While the flying boat had been designed to fulfil a military specification, the design team had undertaken some work towards its prospective civilian applications as well. By the end of March 1945, after completed only four test flights, BV 238 V1 was declared to be fit for service. ==Design==

The BV 238 was an extremely large flying boat of conventional aerodynamic design, but bearing the usual B&V structural hallmarks of all-metal construction with a tubular steel wing main spar which also functioned as the armoured main fuel tank. Of the era, only the earlier Tupolev ANT-20, the Martin XPB2M-1 and the later Hughes H-4 had a bigger wing span. However, the BV 238 would be the heaviest yet flown, at fully loaded.. Principal differences between the BV 238 and the preceding BV 222, aside from the formerly greater size and some hydrodynamic improvements, included a revised elevator and an alternative float arrangement. It was powered by six Daimler-Benz DB 603 liquid-cooled inverted V12 piston engines, capable of producing up to 1,287 kW (1,750 hp). These engines were installed in nacelles that were arranged along the leading edge of the wing's centre section. ==Variants==

;BV 250 :A landplane version, initially referred to as the BV 238-Land, was proposed; it was to be capable of carrying out transport, long-range bombing and transatlantic reconnaissance duties. :The lower hull was replaced by a plain fairing with retractable undercarriage comprising twelve main and two nose wheels. ;BV 250 Zwilling :A twin fuselage variant, known as the BV 250Z (Zwilling - "Twin"), was briefly considered, however left on the drawing board. The only evidence of this design is a Blohm & Voss blueprint of an unknown date. Designated "Blohm & Voss P 167 01-01", it would have been powered by 12 engines, and been the largest aircraft at its time. The role of the aircraft is unknown, it presumably could have been a transport or heavy bomber like its BV 250 counterpart. ==Specifications (BV 238A-02 (V6))==