Me 163B CG positions and range


The CG was usually expressed as 'mm ht MVH', with 'ht MVH' almost certainly short for 'hinter Mitte Vorderholm' or 'behind the center of the front spar'. This point is very likely, but not confirmed explicitly so far, 'Spant 4' (frame/bulkhead 4) at fuselage station 1800 mm. Refer to the Reference data for Me 163B CAD model for more information on the frame positions.

To express the CG as a percentage, the 'mean aerodynamic chord' (MAC) and its location of its leading edge (LEMAC) are required. In a drawing titled 'Flügel - Geheim' dated 14 January 1944 from the NASM archive these numbers are shown to be 1974 mm, and 126 mm behind Spant 4 respectively. This allows the calculation: taking '470 mm ht MVH' as an example, subtracting 126 mm gives the position on the MAC, 344 mm, and dividing that number by the MAC length gives the percentage, 17.43%.

Known CG positions are reported in the table below. Normal CG range appears to be 3.55%, but 5-7% is also reported. The CG positions reported by the RAE are rather different than those reported by German sources.

Reported CG location Percentage MAC Source
Schwerpunktlage bei Abfluggewicht: 470 mm ht MVH 17.43% 'Raketenjäger Me163' by Mano Ziegler, page 213, flight test report 2 July 1944 in V41k PK+QL
430 mm 15.40% Lippisch post-war interview with the British, stated as the normal forward CG position
500 mm 18.95% Lippisch post-war interview with the British, stated as the normal rearward CG position
550 mm 21.48% Lippisch post-war interview with the British, stated as the neutral point
480 mm "This figure was recommended as the best balancing point by Dr. Lippisch, designer of the Me-163" as quoted in Memorandum Report on ME-163B, Serial No. FE-500 on the WWII Aircraft Performance website
~ 53% projected centerline chord 18.66% wind tunnel model drawing
'forward CG position' 20.9% RAE Report No. Aero 2255 (with VF241)
'aft CG position' 24.2% RAE Report No. Aero 2255 (with VF241)
'neutral point stick fixed - flaps up' 27% RAE Report No. Aero 2255 (with VF241)
'neutral point stick fixed - flaps down' 26% RAE Report No. Aero 2255 (with VF241)


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