The Piggy Back Ride that Failed Dornier DO 217E and Messerschmitt ME 328 Mistel Bad Vibrations for the Luftwaffe Siegfried Holzbauer, a Junkers test pilot, had the revolutionary idea in 1941 of using old planes filled with bombs as one-way missiles. The Luftwaffe liked the plan and started the development of the Messerschmitt ME-328, the worlds smallest jet plane. With a 440lb. bomb load, the idea was to have the single-crew ME-328 on a wood stand above a Dornier DO 217E heavy bomber. This parasite fighter could launch from the Dornier and provide the Luftwaffe with protection from Allied fighters. But, the wood stand could not handle the weight of the ME-328 and the heavy vibrations and the plan was abandoned in 1944. Some ME-328s were outfitted as flying bombs later in the war. The Dornier DO-217E was more successful for the Germans. Powered by twin BMW 801A engines of 1578hp. each, the 217E could carry a heavier bomb load than the Junkers JU 88 or the Henkel HE 111. With a 321mph top speed, 1242 mile range and over a ton of bombs, these Dornier's were effective heavy bombers. Their long, thin fuselages gave them the nickname “Flying Pencils”. Features • Free Stand Included • Dornier 7", Messerschmitt 3" Long • Precision Die-Cast Replica • 1:100 Scale Model