Gotha Ka 430

Ka 430
300px
Role	Transport glider
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Gotha
Designer	Albert Kalkert
First flight	1943
Status	prototypes only
Number built	12

The Gotha Ka 430 was a military transport glider, first built in 1944. The glider was designed by Albert Kalkert. Twelve had been produced by the end of World War II, but none of them was used operationally.

The glider could carry twelve men, and tests were being conducted towards the end of the war to see if it could carry a cargo of 1,400 kg (3,100 lb). A single 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131 machine gun was fitted for self defence.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Capacity: 12 troops or 1,400 kg (3,080 lb) of cargo
• Length: 13.22 m (43 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 19.50 m (64 ft 0 in)
• Height: 4.16 m (13 ft 8 in)
• Empty weight: 1,810 kg (3,990 lb)
• Gross weight: 4,600 kg (10,140 lb)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 320 km/h (200 mph)

Armament

• 1 × 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131 machine gun in dorsal turret

References

• deutscheluftwaffe.de
• warbirdsresourcegroup.org