Editing Bachem Ba 349 Natter (section)

===Modifications===
[[Heinrich Himmler]] became interested in Bachem's design. The [[Reichsführer-SS]] granted Bachem an interview and fully supported the project. In the middle of September 1944, the Technical Office of the [[Waffen-SS]] made an order for Bachem to develop and manufacture the Natter at his [[Bad Waldsee|Waldsee]] factory.<ref>Grieger 1990, p. 26.</ref> The [[Reichsluftfahrtministerium]] (RLM/German Aviation Ministry) officially designated the BP-20 the Ba 349A and construction began.{{Sfn |Aeronautical Staff of Aero Publishers|1966| p =  35}} During December 1944, the project came largely under the control of the SS and [[Obergruppenführer]] [[Hans Kammler]].<ref>Felkin 1945 {{page needed|date=November 2022}}</ref> This decision is said to have been the only time the SS significantly interfered with aircraft design and air fighting strategy.<ref>Speer 2001, p. 215.</ref> Early-on in the project, the RLM undertook an engineering assessment of the Natter, which it reported on 28 October 1944.<ref>Magerstädt 1944 {{page needed|date=November 2022}}</ref>

The Natter was designed to be built by unskilled labor with poor-quality tools and inexpensive material.<ref name="ley194811">{{Cite magazine |last=Ley |first=Willy |date=November 1948 |title=The 'Brickwall' in the Sky |url=https://archive.org/stream/Astounding_v42n03_1948-11_cape1736#page/n77/mode/2up |magazine=Astounding Science Fiction |pages=78–99}}</ref> Various stringent economies were imposed on an already frugal design. The Natter had no landing gear, which saved weight, expense and construction time. Consequently, one of the most unusual features of the machine was the escape of the pilot and recovery of the machine.

The proposed sequence of these events was as follows: After the attack, the Natter might dive to a lower altitude and flatten out into level flight. The pilot would then proceed with a well-practised escape sequence. He would open the cockpit canopy latch, which would allow the canopy to flick backwards on its hinge in the airstream. Next, the pilot would undo his seat belt and remove his feet from the rudder pedal stirrups. By squeezing a lever mounted on the control column, he would release a lock at the base of the column, which would allow him to tilt the column forwards where it could engage in and undo a safety latch for the nose release mechanism. He would then lean a little further forward and pull a lever hinged near the floor at the front of the cockpit, freeing the nose section, which self-jettisoned as a result of the reduced aerodynamic pressure at the front of the fuselage.

As the nose section separated, it was intended to briefly pull on two cables that released a small ribbon parachute stored on the starboard side of the rear fuselage. The parachute subsequently opened and decelerated the Natter. The pilot would be ejected from the cockpit by his own momentum and as soon as he was clear of the fuselage, he would open his personal parachute and descend to the ground.<ref>Gooden 2006, pp. 101–102.</ref>{{r|ley194811}} A parachute was to eject the valuable Walter rocket engine from the rear, which would decelerate the aircraft and eject the pilot with inertia,{{r|ley194811}} however, associated problems with this mechanism were still not fully resolved prior to the conflict's end.{{CN|date=November 2022}}

Wind tunnel testing on a wooden model, scaled to 40% of full size, was performed at the ''Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt'' (DVL), the Institute for Aerodynamics at [[Berlin]]-[[Adlershof]] in September 1944 at speeds up to {{convert|504|km/h}}. Results from these tests were reported in January 1945 to the Bachem-Werk.<ref>Wacke 1945, p. 218.</ref>{{r|ley194811}} Further model tests were carried out at the ''[[Luftfahrtforschungsanstalt]] Hermann Göring'' (LFA) facility in [[Völkenrode]]-Braunschweig, at speeds close to [[Mach number|Mach]] 1.<ref name="Millikan 1945, p. 14">Millikan 1945, p. 14.</ref> In March the Bachem-Werk simply received a statement that satisfactory flying qualities should be expected with speeds up to {{convert|1,100|km/h}}.<ref name="Bratt 1945">Bratt 1945 {{page needed|date=November 2022}}</ref>