Three Engines, One Unique Design | Blohm & Voss BV 138 [Aircraft Overview #85]

[@RexsHangar]

F.A.Q Section Q: Do you take aircraft requests? A: I have a list of aircraft I plan to cover, but feel free to add to it with suggestions:) Q: Why do you use imperial measurements for some videos, and metric for others? A: I do this based on country of manufacture. Imperial measurements for Britain and the U.S, metric for the rest of the world, but I include text in my videos that convert it for both. Q: Will you include video footage in your videos, or just photos? A: Video footage is very expensive to licence, if I can find footage in the public domain I will try to use it, but a lot of it is hoarded by licencing studies (British Pathe, Periscope films etc). In the future I may be able to afford clips :) Q: Why do you sometimes feature images/screenshots from flight simulators? A: Sometimes there are not a lot of photos available for certain aircraft, so I substitute this with digital images that are as accurate as possible.

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Thanks my friend for another fine video with amazing pics 👍 Shoe 🇺🇸

[@pat8988]

Very interesting, but, “rusted hull”? Were these things made of steel?

[@iatsd]

bomb rack on the starboard side....

[@tomneely8326]

Google calendar

[@migueldelacruz4799]

Another amazing video sir. I knew this aircraft had an amazing service record but had no idea of it's troubled youth. As an interesting late and post war aircraft out of Canada, I would suggest the Avro 691 Lancastrian. It was a bizarre repurpose of a bomber design that actually got some post war buyers.

[@Simon_de_Cornouailles]

Blohm & Voss made some of the visually coolest aircraft of that period.

[@Ba_Yegu]

They were basically shipbuilders, so they saw no urge to stay in aircraft design liturgy. ; ) The BV 144 for example fulfilled all and every requirement the RLM had stated for a reconnaissance plane and flew like a champ, but looked so weird it never was accepted in production.

[@mbryson2899]

When I was around age 10 I received a BV 141 model kit as a gift. It spurred a great interest in "odd" looking aircraft and their development. It also inspired me to look at everyday problems and puzzles from unconventional angles, a habit that has served me well in life.

[@Simon_de_Cornouailles]

@@mbryson2899 Same. I also had a model BV 144! Perhaps there should be a BV appreciation club!

[@BV-fr8bf]

@@Ba_Yegu By chance do you mean the BV 141 asymmetrical recon aircraft?

[@BV-fr8bf]

Blohm & Voss made visually cool aircraft, but the Battleship Bismarck is the most memorable build!

[@Horsefingerandthetaintwrights]

I've always loved this little boat. It would make a great camper.

[@elennapointer701]

Richard Vogt was a mad, beautiful genius with a brilliantly sideways brain and I challenge anyone else to come with half the crazy (but totally practical) designs he dreamed up 😀

[@stephanbaumeister4507]

burt Duran seems to be directly descended from him

[@stuff___idontknow2610]

I love these videos about the history of obscure and unique warbirds, always a treat to watch👍

[@woof355]

Thanks to Rex for another good video! A bit of additional info: In 1944, two BV 138 were shot down by allied fighters and crashlanded in the sea just outside the island where I was born, near Ålesund, Norway. Some years ago, there was an attempt to salvage one of them. Unfortunately, when the BV 138 reached the surface, it broke into several pieces and went to the bottom again, where it still lies.

[@Andreas0705]

There is one in the Danmarks Tekniske Musseum, that was salvage from the sea. It's rusted into oblivion but it's still displayed

[@Dilley_G45]

I read about it, late 80s, early 90s? Wasn't the crew still in there? Isn't that a war grave? Or is it only a war grave when its allied?

[@PhantomLover007]

I’ve always thought the BV-138 was a pretty cool aircraft. I guess his design made it all of my favorites. The Catalina is a classic design, the 138 is just completely unique.

[@ErikssonTord_2]

Alas one with a lot of flaws!

[@Dilley_G45]

Not as good as Catalina, Sunderland and Mariner, allied had better flying boats, except BV 222 and 238, although the Martin Mars was big and useful too

[@luipaardprint]

The first time I saw this plane was in a Dutch comic book series, and for all over twenty years I had assumed it was a fictional plane because of how cool it looked.

[@nogi2167]

Considering your love of flying boats, I’m shocked it took you this long to get to this plane!

[@volvo245]

One of the rare models that were blessed by the Jumo 200 series opposed piston diesel engines that are still among the most efficient powerplants ever created. They gave the 138 and my favorite seaplane Dornier Do-26 amazing range for their size.

[@petercrosland5502]

And you may not know, it they powered British trains for ages, the Deltic series were based on it.

[@JustanOlGuy]

As anAir Force brat, I am always well impressed by your presentations, thank you for sharing.

[@jonmcgee6987]

From a fellow Air Force brat. Did your AF parent or parents( both of mine were, ho my mom met my step-dad). Tend to say what they did wrong while watching any movie or T.V show with military aircraft? My step-dad did that multiple times when I was a kid. He was a survival instructor with flight time in the 2 seaters of the F-4 and F-16.

[@cosmoray9750]

Look up " From Anti-Japan to Anti-China: History REPEATS? " on yT. Insightful and history repeats.....

[@ringandpinion3064]

Your presentations are always very professional. I'm a retired industrial machinery mechanic and always thought I would have enjoyed working on some of those old aircraft. Alas, this is as close as I'll come but it is very enjoyable.

[@dietmar604]

Thanks for finally making a video on the Holzschuh. Was waiting long for a good video on that extraordinary aircraft

[@Hartley_Hare]

It's such an awesome language - Der Fliegende Holzschuh? Cool as anything.

[@AAO342]

Great video. The long "pipe" on top of the wreck at 13.30 is the main wing spar which doubled as the fuel tank . The engines are also unusual with twelve pistons sharing six cylinders . There is a video of a running Jumo 205 here on KZbin .

[@NareshSinghOctagon]

Use " : " so the timestamp actually works.

[@AAO342]

@@NareshSinghOctagon Ah , thanks for the advice . Did not know that ;-)

[@whtalt92]

@@AAO342 The opposed piston Diesels were quite a nifty design indeed. Also used in the high altitude Ju-86P versions.

[@wbertie2604]

Mad plane, mad engine.

[@sheepFP5]

One of my all time favourite planes! Diesel aircraft are the best

[@sheepFP5]

Interesting fact about the Jumo diesels is that they are opposed piston 2 stroke diesels, with two pistons per cylinder and no valve gear at all. The pistons just uncovered ports, with the intake and exhaust timing being regulated by the slight difference in timing of each of the opposed pistons. When the engine was first designed, a number of engineers from Napier took part in a secondment at Jumo, and they later designed the famous Napier Deltic engines using design experience from this period!

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

@@sheepFP5 any particular reason why they decided to go diesel? I've never heard of a diesel Aviation engine?

[@Scodiddly]

@@WALTERBROADDUS It was mentioned - so the plane could be refueled by U-boats. Makes sense, if you can get enough power. Everything else on the water runs on diesel.

[@sheepFP5]

@@WALTERBROADDUS In the early 30s there was a lot of interest in Diesel Aviation engines due to their better fuel economy and less dangerous fuel, as well as the interoperability with Diesel boats and submarines (especially useful for long range seaplanes). The Jumo family of diesels were some of the most widely produced aviation diesels around, powering a number of long range/high altitude aircraft like the JU86P/R recon variants, BV138 and BV222, and the Fairey III (made under license by Napier & Son). Due to their huge weight and lower RPM they weren't really suited for fighters, so they don't get the same attention most of the time! There are a couple of Aviation Diesels in production today, most notably the RED Aircraft V12, which can run on off-road diesel or Jet-A in the 600-800hp engine class.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

@@Scodiddly that's sort of ignores the minor problem of it being a lousy Open Sea flying boat. And more than minor problem of finding a U-boat, let alone landing and refueling from it.

[@PpAirO5]

This is such a cool airplane, and the name is just awesome too, "SeeDrache" or "SeaDragon" 🌊

[@brendonbewersdorf986]

I'm glad to see your covering this plane it's super unique

[@TheQuestionMarkWasEmphasized]

Always loved the look of this plane. Trimotors are cool.

[@ErikssonTord_2]

The engine on the top of the wing will affect trim greatly, making handling a bit tricky, and waste a lot of power. So the original twinengined version is a better solution in every way, just stupid to not allow the use of more powerful engines! According to Eric Brown, R.N., who testflew it, it handled badly in any kind of seas.

[@OliverSchroeder]

​@@ErikssonTord_2As it was told in the video, the more powerful engines were just not available. It also has not much to do with a tri-motor arrangement, because the Do 24 also has three engines (though gasoline-fueled BMW radials), and it is one of the best flying boat designs ever made.

[@ErikssonTord_2]

@@OliverSchroeder Definitely one of the best, but that is quite a different bird in seagoing capacity. Although the the updated version has show difficukties in the sea, too. Well documented on KZbin, with the charming Mr, Dornier at the wheel. Sad that none of the later designs have had economic success.

[@OliverSchroeder]

​@@ErikssonTord_2Yes, the hydrodynamic properties of the Bv 138 remained unsatisfactory. It was completely unsuitable for SAR missions, so the Luftwaffe had to rely on the Do 24 (+Do18, +He 59 etc.) Perhaps because of the steep side walls, too? I can only guess, but perhaps the short hull of the Bv 138 created too much hydrodynamic drag (keyword: hull speed)?

[@Dilley_G45]

Well third engine will give power 😉

[@bentilbury2002]

One of my favourite aircraft! Love me some aerial footware! You'd think the Dutch would have been all over this - a clog with three windmills lol.

[@whtalt92]

No thanks. T.VIIIW for us please. 😉

[@MaticTheProto]

@@whtalt92 why do the dutch name their planes so weirdly

[@whtalt92]

@@MaticTheProto as opposed to a Halifax Mk.II series 1A you mean? :P

[@MaticTheProto]

@@whtalt92 at least that name sounds only like half a stroke

[@petergray7576]

The Dutch went with another wonky German three engine design instead, the Dornier Do 24K.

[@untruelie2640]

Very nice to learn more about this aircraft. :) A little remark: The V in Voss and Vogt is pronounced as F in this case (in German the V can either be F or the german W, since there is no distinct german V sound - while the german W is pronounced like the english V and the english W has no german equivalent.) (For example, the famous car brand Volkswagen is pronounced "Folksvagen" using english pronounciations)

[@shelbyseelbach9568]

He wasn't speaking German.

[@untruelie2640]

@@shelbyseelbach9568 Does this change the fact that these are german names?

[@shelbyseelbach9568]

@@untruelie2640 Does this change the fact that different names are pronounced differently in different languages?

[@untruelie2640]

@@shelbyseelbach9568 Some geographical names are different if they have been known for along time, yes. Some times even surnames if their bearers have chosen to assimilate into another culture. For example, Pfizer is an american company, so I accept that the usual pronounciation is "Fiser", not "Pfitser" like the german surname of it's founder. But Blohm & Voss was and is a german company with a long tradition. If someone pronounces its name differently, then that is understandable, but it is still legitimate for me to point to the fact that the correct pronounciation is the original german one.

[@shelbyseelbach9568]

@@untruelie2640 Whatever helps you sleep at night, my friend.

[@admiraltiberius1989]

I do absolutely love flying boats

[@andrewphillips8341]

This was one of my favorite models builds when I was a kid!

[@davidjones332]

I bet the pilots really loved that bow turret when trying to taxi, land or take off in a busy waterway. I wonder how many ended up pranging a small boat, a marker buoy or a floating log?

[@rolandharbord5435]

It does look awkward, I wonder if it was retractable like some other turrets of the time.

[@davidjones332]

@@rolandharbord5435 I don't think so. I've never seen a picture with it retracted, and the hull looks too shallow to allow for that. Curiously the Do24 flying boat had a very similar turret, so presumably the Luftwaffe thought it was something they could live with.

[@Vinemaple]

Thank you so much for covering all these flying boats and seaplanes! They always interested me far more than the flashy fighters and experimental abominations...

[@RB-bd5tz]

4:00 It's amazing that thing can even move, let alone fly ...

[@americanpatriot2422]

Outstanding video and presentation of an great seaplane.

[@TrondOleJensen]

Such a awesome looking plane this is. Have 25+ dives on one of these airplanes.

[@hydorah]

It's like three planes smooshed together. A flying boat fuselage, a single seat fighter front end up top and some sort of twinboom madness

[@bigblue6917]

I agree with the notion that the BV 128 looks like a flying clog, which is what I thought first time I saw it. That or a flying clothes iron. Whatever it did put a good workman like performance.

[@hanyoukimura]

I wonder if this plane inspired the design of the Sea Duck from Talespin. Seeing a lot of similarities in the configuration (besides engine count and military armament of course).

[@clifbradley]

I like it. Could be one of those retro,futuristic fighters/carriers you see in anime. Except noe it carries bombs under the wings. Like 15 100 lb. Bomblets and the pod up front is a 134D inspired laser cannon. There's a rear gunner and it carries two torpedoes hidden away. They take inspiration, then go nuts.

[@traumgeist]

The diesels were part of a long line of development of opposed piston diesel engines. Junkers aero engines was planning to produce a much larger, rhomboidal version, but they couldn’t get the prototype to work reliably. A British engineer solved the problem post War by changing it to a triangular configuration and reversing the rotation of one of the crankshafts. The result was the Napier Deltic.

[@shawnmiller4781]

Amazing today manufacturers are having so much trouble developing diesel recip engines today

[@AndrewGivens]

I love this very distinctive-looking aeroplane! - For me, the most interestingly overlooked feature of the affectionate 'Flying Clog' nickname is that it's a great pun - a piece of very service personnel-like wordplay by the Germans: "Der Fliegende Holzschuh" is the German for it - 'holzschuh' being quite literally 'Dutch shoe', so a clog, then - but that name in itself is a humourous adaptation (or playful mangling) of the title of one of Wagner's best-known operas; The Flying Dutchman'. Or, in German, 'Der Fliegende Hollander'. So, take the Fuhrer's favourite composer's possibly most popular work, twist it and get a cute, affectionate and funny nickname for the BV 138. - I can recall reading about the Arctic convoys, which this aircraft was frequently encountered snooping around at long range and seem to recall that the Allied nickname for it was "shad", short for 'shadower', but that may not have been universal. I'm amazed that such slow aircraft were capable of surviving the attentions of enemy fighters at all, but they did and that's a remarkable fact.

[@marcmt4171]

Between today's Drachinifel episode and this posting I'm just having an awesome Wednesday. Thank you Rex!!!!

[@Schlipperschlopper]

Die Fliegende Schlappe war ein top Flugzeug!

[@TheRcgordon]

A very nice review of a most odd but lovable aircraft. Three engines over the ocean in wartime must be good.

[@gregbolitho9775]

Nice job. One of my favorite Blohm & Voss 'duck'. Voss, I'd like to know what Voss had in his morning coffee too. Jiro Horikoshi was another favorite, with his A6M. Keep up the good work m8!

[@shelbyseelbach9568]

Gotta love the turret right in front of the cockpit, directly in the forward line sight that pilots typically like to have. LMFAO.

[@NewFaceEurope]

The nose tilts down during flight, increasing speed and lift as it goes. Makes the gunner able to hit ground targets.

[@tristannieto]

One of my all time faves. Such a bonkers aircraft. So glad to see you covering it.

[@gregedwards5608]

This is extremely important and fascinating.

[@johnforsyth7987]

Thank you for another wonderful informative video. While I already was aware of this aircraft. I learned a lot more detail about is plane from this video.

[@stefanebert7171]

Great channel! Best from Hamburg, Germany

[@karoltakisobie6638]

History of Diesel aero engines is a subject worth its own video. Some truly great designs were created.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Were there really that many?

[@Thomasnmi]

@@WALTERBROADDUS mostly in airships, but there were some diesel aircraft, but not many

[@JGCR59]

The Küstenflieger were probably critical of the BV 138 because the Luftwaffe had a perfectly good Dornier flying boat in the Do 24 which, due to it being an export order for the Netherlands, never saw general use as a recon flying boat but was instead limited to air sea rescue operations

[@jasonz7788]

Great work Sir thank you

[@old_guard2431]

The engines are very impressive. The high compression ratios required for auto ignition of diesel fuel (17:1 in this case) require a sturdy and usually heavy engine block, bearings, etc. Not ideal for aero engines. A comparison with the General Motors 71 Series engines, developed at about the same time, is inherently unfair since the GM is an industrial engine used in boats, busses, some tanks, generator sets, pumps and the like. But, nonetheless: GM 6-71 weighs about 2,150 pounds and produced about 170 horsepower without the supercharger developed later. The Jumo 205E weighed about 1,257 pounds dry and produced 560 horsepower, maximum continuous at sea level. For the time, that is very impressive.

[@andysweetland8645]

Just FYI, the 4 x DB 602 V16 diesels on the airship Hindenburg (LZ 129) produced 1,100 hp each and weighed 2,000 Kgs (4,410 lbs). Entered service in 1936, (P-W Ratio 0.24). Outstanding performance/numbers for a diesel engine of its day.

[@sergeychmelev5270]

@@andysweetland8645 The Soviet ACh-30 diesel which they used on one of the versions of Pe-8 heavy bomber made 1500 hp at 1200 kg in 1940.

[@old_guard2431]

@@andysweetland8645 Jet engines were not the only types where they were ahead of the curve, it seems. A bit of a surprise: you see pictures/videos of their U-Boat engines with exposed valve train on the top and this seems primitive compared with Fairbanks-Morse and EMD medium-speed marine/industrial engines, designed in the late 1930’s and still in use today. It did not occur to me that they would use diesels on the airships, but it makes sense. In addition to greater efficiency for range, you don’t have to carry gasoline. A threat to the big hydrogen “bomb” keeping you aloft.

[@andysweetland8645]

@@old_guard2431 (and the others above). Thanks all for the additional info, especially re the ACh-30 Sergey. A new one on me. Re diesels generally, yup the extra range/lower fuel consumption fuel consumption obviously does/did make sense. But due to higher compression ratios (than petrol engines - which means heavier sumps, heads, crankshaft/s, bearings, etc, etc), the problem is to get the the total output (hp) up while limiting all that extra weight. But going back to the 1920's/30's, as well as that point, generally it seems that "everyone" was scared of petrol engines "in the tropics". That's why the R-R petrol-engined British R100 airship was chosen to do the proving flight to Canada (Montreal), rather than the "competing" R101 airship which had diesels (Beardmores I think). That was even though both the R101 engines, AND the whole ships structure, was WAY overweight and had much less disposal lift (weight carrying capacity) than the R100. The result was the "inevitable" (?) crash in Beauvais (France), while on it's first proving flight (planned destination was Karachi, then part of India). So it crashed at about 10% of the whole way to it's destination. Incidentally, both the (in)famous R101 crash, AND the even more well-known German LZ 129 Hindenburg airship crash (Lakehurst NJ, USA) were NOT caused by having Hydrogen as the lifting gas. Hydrogen "simply" (and literally) "added fuel to fires" which resulted from the crashes being caused by entirely different root causes. But I should stop! This thread is about flying boats (which I also love)! Cheers

[@brokenbrain3523]

Thank you for all of this interesting information

[@Zoydian]

Thank you for this interesting video; first time I hear about this beautiful aircraft. Would love to see one salvaged and restored!

[@Pierluigi_Di_Lorenzo]

excellent footage!

[@fredbloggs5902]

I remember Airfix did a Blohm & Voss plane that had an all glass crew pod separate from the body / tail boom. (If that makes any sense).

[@Ba_Yegu]

Yup, the BV 144 reconnaissance plane, where the crew sat in a glass house with exceptional view. Edit: Sorry Typo: It really was the BV-141.

[@StratoSound]

That would be the BV 141

[@fredbloggs5902]

Update: Many thanks for the replies, I can confirm the BV141 looks like the plane I remember.

[@michaelscaplis]

Lovely looking plane. I remember first seeing it in a comic book though can't recall if it really was this one. Stroy was post WW2 somewhere tropical with a girl in the lead - if I remember correctly.

[@basilreid257]

An outstanding presentation telling me what I wanted in this unusual looking patrol plane thanks you

[@sergiologullo2217]

Nice documentary !

[@ericgrace9995]

I do kinda like the style of the German pilot who abandoned the Nazis to save wounded soldiers.

[@whtalt92]

Kein Ausweis, kein Ausflug. Ordnung muss sein!

[@ecyor0]

Say the line! "But the engine was not available in time-" HE SAID THE LINE!

[@crazypetec-130fe7]

It never is.

[@billy5179]

Thank you for choosing this aircraft. Really interesting but not very popular. And as usual a great video. Big fan here. :)

[@migueldelacruz4799]

Love the video lay out. This is one of my favorite flying boats.

[@roadsweeper1]

Man, that's a good looking seaplane. I wonder if anyone has written up plans for an r/c model of it. Would love to have a crack at building that. The triple engine configuration is interesting.

[@JGCR59]

"Special Purpose Bomber Squadron" is the translation of "Kampfgeschwader zur besonderen Verwendung" which for some reason was the unit designation for transport units until around 1943 when they were re designated more sensibly as Transportgeschwader. The z.b.V. designation normally characterized an ad hoc unit and early transport units were assembled from flying school aircraft and civilian airliners, hence that designation.

[@stephengardiner9867]

A 1/48 scale plastic kit of this would be fantastic. There WAS a very expensive and rare resin kit in 1/48 scale at one time.

[@e.d.4824]

Great video on a beautiful fascinating flying boat!…

[@dugclrk]

This was a great looking aircraft!

[@randomnickify]

"What the Vogt took with his morning coffee" - that wasn't a coffee, that was a diesel!

[@martindice5424]

Voght? Asyemetric designs? Blimey… Never saw THAT coming…😂😂👍 Great presentation mate - as always!

[@jimsvideos7201]

Thank you for this; I'm pretty sure I've never seen this type before.

[@artistjoh]

In many ways it can be thought of as the German Catalina. It would be interesting to see a direct comparison of these two remarkable aircraft.

[@animalian01]

I always loved this aircraft,it was one of my favorite German aircraft. It was a very interesting design

[@jeremyporter7443]

The Louwman Museum in the Netherlands has a cutaway of the diesel 6 cylinders from one of the BV 138‘s. Very cool to see

[@tomatokosir]

Burt Rutan could have easily worked for Blohm & Voss!

[@dallesamllhals9161]

Can't wait for B&V Ha 139! Fingers crossed.

[@eastindiaV]

Literally the best aircraft of all time.... put jets on them and they'll rival any modern design... its all the fuselage, if it lifts, it works

[@rogerkay8603]

B&V did some good looking aircraft thats for sure.

[@FelloniusWizard]

ATM I'm sitting with a Do 24 model, so anything related to that part of Luftwaffe, is gold, mate!

[@wolfganggugelweith8760]

Near Munich in OBERSCHLEISSHEIM there is a Museum with a restored Dornier 24 and a Heinkel 111 in perfect condition.

[@FelloniusWizard]

@@wolfganggugelweith8760 Danke Sehr! Museums are also gold!!

[@MarkErikEE]

Jumo made two stage super-turbocharged diesel a thing long before BMW TwinPower came around. Flying boats are cute.

[@johnking1896]

I had seen a report of this AC along with others that were never past a sketch on a sheet of paper, or the first stage of basic design that did not get any farther. Hope to see as many as you have time for, History is as good as the reporting that accompany said ideas.

[@MrShoki44]

In Denmark, it was nicknamed Donald Duck because of its unsynchronized engines. One of them even tried, unsuccessfully, to make an emergency landing on one of the moat lakes in Copenhagen.

[@pythosdegothos6181]

Sad no example of this German version of the Catalina exist in complete condition. You have some great footage and pics of this odd duck.

[@JSDFEnthusiast]

There's nothing more satisfying imo than playing sim in War Thunder battles in this thing and attacking convoys. A shame the Norway map never gets in the matchmaker, but the Arado and the BV in maritime duties is such a fun fight in its own right.

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

I've a;ways liked this unusual plane. I think the diesel engines in particular were what grabbed me attention

[@petervandyk7173]

Minor complaint: V in German is "fau", so it's pronounced Foss, not Voss. As in Folkswagen, not wolgswagen. 😊

[@jasonhare8540]

I mean I'll be honest with you . If I had money and one was available I'd snatch it up tomorrow . Looks like something straight out of Fallout and I'm here for it

[@warhawk4494]

Love the looks of this seaplane.

[@robertschumann9059]

i would like to know more about the dogfight with the catalina

[@paulhelman2376]

Bombs seem under starboard not the port wing.

[@billdurham8477]

I just clicked over on Mariner, this also had a galley and rest bunks. In a description of these, mention was made of being shot down in the Baltic or Black Sea, " live in those waters life was measured in minutes". Mad men.....

[@JGCR59]

This was, apart from a few high altitude Ju 86 reconaissance aircraft this was AFAIK one of only two serial produced diesel aircraft in World War 2, the other being the soviet Yer-2 bomber

[@sergeychmelev5270]

The Soviets produced 10 diesel versions of the Pe-8 heavy bomber in 1940-1941.

[@samyadassi8626]

Blohm & Voss = think outside the box.

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

When the war stopped we had several B&V planes left in Denmark and the one became shot to pieces by English fighters during an afterwar demonstration! Many years later its wreck was saved by divers and today it is being rebuilt in the "Danish Technical Museum" in Elsinore (Also known from the famous Shakespeare Play: Hamlet!). I think it is the only one left? And somewhere in Storstrømmen down south, we also have the wreck of an A.W. Whitley bomber, which landed on the water. The crew got away from the plane.

[@spingebill8551]

In warthunder I use this as a WW2 AC-130, or I guess from the layout the AC-119 would be a more appropriate comparison. Definitely one of the cooler planes out there both in game and IRL.

[@argusflugmotor7895]

For anyone wondering the minesweeper was designated as the BV 138MS and were operated along the Baltic coast.

[@23GreyFox]

I would say a "unremarkable career" is the best thing you can say about a aircraft.

[@Kriszx6]

Your storytelling was less lyrical, and even more factual than usual. I'm not used to the mundane voice you speak in this video, but it speaks volumes of your editing and narrative skills, that this video is still very much enjoyable. Keep up the good work Rex!

[@vipondiu]

The BV P111 looks like the homework you mash up together in the last minute before entering the class

[@jasonkaczynski8218]

This is one of my favorite planes in war thunder I love this little thing

[@peppermill7163]

At 8:45 is the picture reversed because it shows the bomb rack under the starboard wing

[@michaelmclachlan1650]

No, the photograph is correct, the description is for earlier aircraft; see the 'G' designation on the middle engine cowling and the serial number on the boat. Edit: at 09:38 extra bomb racks are mentioned, the photo would be one of those so fitted.

[@Gremlin23]

Loving your videos! I know you have a list, but if you ever have the opportunity I would really like a video on the Blenheim VII. Specifically, why the heck they put in that one pointless machine gun. Everything else about it makes sense more or less, but that gun bugs me.

[@FarmerDrew]

What a strange machine. I think it might be the only aircraft with differentiated propellers.

[@cheesenoodles8316]

Excellent

[@guaporeturns9472]

That rear gunner position must have been a lonely duty

[@ericholder2026]

That was awesome Thanks

[@subdawg1331]

great video thank you