Heinkel He 277

The Heinkel He 277 was a four-engine, long-range heavy bomber design that began as a derivative of the He 177 and was intended for production and use by the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War. The main difference lay in the engines. The He 177 used four engines in two coupled pairs, which proved troublesome, whereas the He 277 was to use four unitized BMW 801E 14-cylinder radial engines in single nacelles. The design was never produced and no prototype airframe was completed, because of the deteriorating condition of the German aviation industry late in the war and competition from other long-range bomber designs. Post-war books often said that He 277 was a cover designation for He 177B, but the article notes that the air ministry only listed the He 277 officially in February 1943, and the project was cancelled in May 1944.