Gotha Go.145

History

Reconstruction of German air travel "between the wars" (between World War I and World War II) was paramount to the training of a new generation of pilots under the constraints of the Treaty of Versailles after World War I. Hence a design like the Gotha Go. The 145 played a major role in forming a new military force that would help conquer Europe on the road to building Hitler's fabled Third Reich.

Aircraft in the traditional two-seat single-engine biplane layout at least 1,182 were built (produced in Germany, handled by various companies) and used in basic roles as trainers and night harassers, with service spanning from 1935 to 1945 for the 20th time war.

Gothaer Waggonfabrik started in the late 19th century, specializing in the production of "rolling stock" for the railway industry. When World War I hit Europe in the summer of 1914, the company was helping the then German Empire produce both small and large aircraft for the war - its main contribution was the large Gotha G-series biplane strategic bombers that terrorized Britain. After Germany's defeat in 1918, it resumed production of rolling stock to survive the constraints of the Treaty of Versailles.

However, with the rise of Nazi Germany, the company was allowed to return to military aircraft production in the mid-1930s and aided the country in a new, full-scale war effort producing models like the Go. 145, as well as supporting other companies as needed - although the main contribution to this work remained the biplane trainer, which incidentally became his first war project.

to walk. The 145 prototype first flew in February 1934 and officially joined the Luftwaffe in 1935. In addition to the production in Gotha, Go. The 145 was also manufactured by the related companies of AGO, BFW and Focke-Wulf - a total of more than 1,100 units were produced by the end of the war.

This aircraft uses a proven biplane configuration. The single-cabin wings have the same span, with reinforced "N-shaped" struts. The two crew members sit in an open-air double cockpit, with the students usually at the front and the instructor at the back. Each cockpit has duplicate controls, allowing any one crew member to fly the aircraft.

Mounted to the nose is an Argus As 10C series radial piston, air-cooled V-8 engine driving a simple two-blade, fixed-pitch, tractor-array propeller unit. The landing gear rolls on the main legs ("tail" configuration) and is fixed in flight.

In true WWI fashion, the structure of the plane was fabric on wood, making it relatively inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

The design of the aircraft is attributed to Albert Kalkert.

The original production form was "Go. 145A", followed by "Go. 145B", with an aerodynamic main gear cab and a more modern enclosed cockpit. walk.

The 145C is used for shooting training and carries a trainable MG15 series air-cooled machine gun in the rear cockpit in place of traditional pilot controls.

Their time in the air, Go. The 145 found considerable value in pilot training, but also took on light night bombing missions - especially after German authorities emphasized the usefulness of the outdated Polikarpov Po-2 in the same role on the Eastern Front.

These aircraft harassed German positions in low light, taking advantage of their natural design features in "slow flight". Over time, it turns out that Go. 145 can be pressed into a similar function, and was Go from 1943 to 1945. 145 participated in night offensive operations against Soviet troops.

Outside Germany, the global operator of Go. The 145 series includes neighboring Austria (12 in total, since 1937), Czechoslovakia (post-war use only), Germany, Romania, Slovakia (1939-1945), Spain (local, licensed as "1145-L" , handled by CASA) and Turkey.

Specification

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