The Heinkel He178V-1 was the world’s first jet powered aeroplane. It was designed specifically to test Germany’s first jet engine and when that task was completed it was sent to a museum where it was later destroyed.

The principle of the gas jet had been known for centuries but it was only in the 1930s, when it became clear that there was a limit to the capability of piston engines, that development of jet engines began.

In Germany development work began in 1935 and shortly afterwards the Heinkel company began planning an aeroplane to test the new jet engine.

Two Heinkel He178s were constructed but only one flew. It made its first flight on 27 August 1939 and made 12 flights in all. After that interest in it declined as Germany went on to design its first jet powered military aeroplanes.

The He178V was then sent to the Berlin Aviation Museum where it was destroyed in an air raid in 1943.

This model represents the first prototype.

Condor 1/72 kit. Completed in August 2000.