Blohm & Voss BV-239 Lufthansa

Following the success of the BV-222 airliner the German airline Lufthansa approached the Blohm & Voss company with the request to create an aircraft that could carry more passengers, faster and over a greater distance.

Design of what was to become the BV-238 started in 1941. As a proof of the concept a smaller scale aircraft FGP-227 was built in Prague. Experiences with this aircraft contributed to the final design of the BV-238.

The BV-238 first flew in April 1944. The BV-238 was powered by six DB603 engines. With these the aircraft could carry 50 passengers over a range of 7000km at an average speed of 350km/h.

The first commercial flight of the BV-238 with Lufthansa was in October 1944 when the first prototype flew from Berlin to Tokyo and back. By 1946 the BV-238 had replaced the BV-222 in Lufthansa service, a total of 34 aircraft being delivered to the airline. The BV-238 was also sold to airlines in Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

A military version, serving as a maritime long range patrol aircraft was proposed but not proceeded with as the Luftwaffe saw no need for such an aircraft.