The Messerschmitt-Caudron MeC 164 was a prototype
airliner
An airliner is a type of airplane for transporting passengers and air cargo. Such aircraft are most often operated by airlines. The modern and most common variant of the airliner is a long, tube shaped, and jet powered aircraft. The largest ...
built in 1942 by
Messerschmitt
Messerschmitt AG () was a German share-ownership limited, aircraft manufacturing corporation named after its chief designer Willy Messerschmitt from mid-July 1938 onwards, and known primarily for its World War II fighter aircraft, in parti ...
and
Caudron
The Société des Avions Caudron was a French aircraft company founded in 1909 as the Association Aéroplanes Caudron Frères by brothers Gaston and René Caudron. It was one of the earliest aircraft manufacturers in France and produced planes for ...
to compete with the
Siebel Si 204. It did not enter mass production.
Design and development
The MeC 164 was designed in Germany by Messerschmitt as an 8-passenger airliner powered by two
Argus As 411
The Argus 411 was an air-cooled, inverted-V12 aircraft engine developed by Argus Motoren in Germany during World War II.
Design and development
The As 411 was a refined and more powerful version of the Argus As 410. Most 411 production was under ...
inline engines as the Me 164. as designed, it was lighter than the Si 204, but was expected to have worse performance than the competing aircraft.
Once design work was completed, Messerschmitt handed it over to Caudron in
Issy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux () is a commune in the southwestern suburban area of Paris, France, lying on the left bank of the river Seine. Its citizens are called in French. It is one of Paris's entrances and is located from Notre Dame Cathedral, whic ...
, which began construction of the prototype in 1942 under the designation MeC 164 V1. However, construction of the prototype progressed slowly, and as a result the project was canceled.
Specifications (MeC 164 V1)
See also
References
{{RLM aircraft designations
Messerschmitt aircraft
Caudron aircraft
1940s German airliners
Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft
High-wing aircraft