Zaeber Z

Zaeber Z
Zaeber Z.3, 1942
Role	Fighter-bomber
National origin	Wingarde
Manufacturer	Zaeber Schwerindustrie
Designer	Florian & Gustav Zaeber
First flight	30 September 1940
Introduction	2 December 1941
Retired	1953–1960
Primary users	Wingarde Federal Air Force Lucretian Republican Air Force
Produced	1941–1951
Variants	???

The Zaeber Z was a line of single-seat, single-engine fighters developed by Zaeber Schwerindustrie in the 1940s, the conglomerate's sole incursion into aircraft design. Highly successful from its inception, the Tzett formed the bulk of the heavier side of the Wingardian Federal Air Force fighter corps for the decade, complementing the more agile Grünjacke. The Z's powerful engine and more robust airframe better suited it for ground attack and bomber interception missions.

• Z.1 (1940): Prototype, 1,200 hp engine, basic armor and armament (2×12.7mm, 2x20mm).
• Z.2 (1941): First production variant, 1,300 hp engine, improved pilot armor and self-sealing fuel tanks.
• Z.3 (1942): 1,475 hp engine, full armament (2×12.7mm, 4x20mm), rocket rails, upgraded gunsight.
• Z.4 (1943): 1,500 hp engine, light bomb capability (2×250 kg), better cockpit visibility, improved oil cooling.
• Z.5 (1943): 1,600 hp, heavy bomb (2×500 kg) and drop tank capability, reinforced airframe for ground attack.
• Z.6 (1944): Bubble canopy for better visibility, aerodynamic and cowling refinements.
• Z.7 (1944): 1,800 hp + WEP, better high-altitude performance, improved fuel injection.
• Z.8 (1945): 2,000 hp + WEP, full combat load bearing, further armoring, advanced radio.
• Z.9 (1946): Simplified engine for export, standardized configuration, post-war instrument package.

• Crew: 1 pilot
• Length: 9.13 m
• Wingspan: 11.50 m
• Height: 3.20 m
• Empty weight: 4,421 kg
• Max. takeoff weight: 5,710 kg
• Powerplant: 1 × XXXX inverted liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,193 kW (1,600 hp)

• Maximum speed: 700 km/h at altitude
• Range: 1,200 km
• Service ceiling: 12,200 m

• Guns:
  • 2 × 12.7mm (.50 in) XXXX machine guns, mounted in the nose
  • 4 × 20mm Zaeber ZK3 cannons, mounted in the wings

• Rockets: 8 × 127mm high velocity aircraft rockets

• Bombs: 2 × 250 kg bombs or 2 × 500 kg bombs or 2 × 250-litre drop tank