The Heinkel He 162A-2: This aircraft was known as the Salamander and Sparrow, but its official name was the Volksjäger or "People's Fighter". THe second jet aircrtaft to see service in the Luftwaffe in WWII, it was a rival to the Messerschmitt Me 262 and was the fastest of the first generation of Axis and Allied jets. Operation started in February 1945, the first confirmed kill coming in April. The aircraft suffered from a crippling lack of fuel (endurance was just 30 minutes) but had good handling characteristics. This CD holds 77 photos.

The Messerschmitt ME163: Named the Komet, this aircraft was a short-range rocket-powered intereceptor. Designed Alexander Lippischby to use a hydrogen peroxide based rocket motor (in turn designed by Hellmuth Walter) the aircraft proved both fast and troublesome, and had a reputation for exploding in flight, despite setting a world speed record of over 600mph during its early trials. This CD holds 54 photos.

The Messerschmitt Me 262A-2a: The first test flights of the ME262 began in April 1941. However problems with the turbojets meant that they were with an ancilliary conventional Junkers Jumo 210 engine fitted in the nose. The first jet-only flight finally took place in July 1942. However even then the aircraft landed with the jets shut down and the Jumo running. Once the problems had been ironed out, though, the 262 became the most advanced fighter of the Second World War. Too few Messerschmitt Me262s were deployed by the Luftwaffe at too late a stage to affect the course of the air war over Europe. Small numbers were used operationally from 1944 but if they had appeared earlier, or in greater numbers, the story of the war might well have had a different ending. It was a formidable opponent, over 100mph faster than fastest allied aircraft. This CD holds 40 photos.

You can see sample images from these disks on the individual catalogue entries for these aircraft.