Push-Pull.

This is coolbert:

From a comment to the blog by Steiner:

"Steiner said...
What about the Dornier Do335? A combo push/pull, it has been described as the most effective iteration of the twin-engine 'heavy' fighter concept in the Luftwaffe's WW2 deployment."

Indeed, two items of interest here:

1. The heavy fighter warplane of the Second World War [WW2] era.

A warplane the heavy fighter most often characterized [perhaps in all cases?] by having two engines, able to escort long-range bombers all the way to the target, the heavy fighter carrying ordnance beyond that of the normal "light-weight" fighter of the same war.

"A heavy fighter is a fighter aircraft designed to carry heavier weapons or operate at longer ranges. To achieve acceptable performance, most heavy fighters were twin-engined, and many had multi-place crews."

Heavy fighters types and Marks of WW2 to include but not limited to:

* Mosquito [British].
* Bf 110 [German].
* Beaufighter [British].
* P-38 [American]

The concept of the heavy fighter worthy but as implemented during the war the results less than satisfactory:

"heavy fighters largely failed in their intended roles during World War II, as they could not outmaneuver the more conventional, single-engined fighters. Many twin-engined heavy fighters eventually found their niche as night fighters, with considerable successes."

2. And add to that list  the Dornier 335. A heavy fighter with the engines mounted in the push-pull configuration, one at the front and one at the rear.

This plane as displayed in the United States having the swastika symbol. That same plane as a museum piece in Germany would be sans swastika.

"The Dornier Do 335 Pfeil ('Arrow') was a World War II heavy fighter built by the Dornier company . . . The Pfeil's performance was much better than other twin-engine designs due to its unique "push-pull" layout and the much lower drag of the in-line alignment of the two engines"

The Do 335 having that tricycle landing gear and possessing some considerable firepower:

"Armament"
* 1 × 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 103 cannon.
* 2 × 20 mm MG 151/20 cowl-mount, synchronized autocannons

The Do 335 several some interesting features disadvantages and potential difficulties with the design taken into consideration remedies incorporated from the start:

* "The choice of a full 'four-surface' set of cruciform tail surfaces in the Do 335's rear fuselage design, included a ventral vertical fin–rudder assembly to project downwards from the extreme rear of the fuselage, in order to protect the rear propeller from an accidental ground strike on takeoff."

* "explosive charges built into the aircraft to blow off the tail fin and rear propeller in the event of an emergency."

Recall that the Swedish Saab-21 also having the same explosive capability! Blow that rear tail assembly away in case of pilot bail-out!

Also, as with the experimental "pusher" designs of the same war, the formidable combat capability of the Do 335 and the advantages of the push-pull design made MOOT by the advent of the jet engine!

coolbert.