Barry Lloyd examines the VFW 614 – an innovative German-designed, multinational jetliner that helped pave the way for European transport aircraft development.
During the 1950s, there was no shortage of companies competing to design and build what they believed would be the ultimate Douglas DC-3 replacement. Avro, Convair, Fokker and Handley Page were just a few of those whose design offices were busy working on transport aircraft projects, deciding whether to put the wings on top of the fuselage or underneath, and what type of powerplants should propel their brainchild.