Messerschmitt Bf-109

2008-01-07T06:47:00.000-08:00

History: In the mid-1930s, the Luftwaffe began to modernize its fighter aircraft fleet. A competition for new designs was held, resulting in at least four competitors. Two designs were selected for further development, one being Willy Messerschmitt's Bf 109, a single-seat derivation of his previously-successful Bf 108 design. The first -109 prototype, powered by a 695-hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine, first flew on 28 May 1935. The second prototype was fitted with the engine for which it had been designed, the 610-hp Junkers Jumo 210A. Pre-production prototypes had various combinations of armament and engines.

The first production model, the Bf 109B-1, was delivered in early 1937 to the JG132 'Richthofen' squadron, Germany's top fighter unit. The new fighters quickly established a good combat reputation in the Spanish Civil War later that year. The next production variant, the Bf 109C-1, appeared in the fall of 1937, and utilized a more powerful 700-hp Jumo 210Ga engine. Demand for the airplane was so great that it was built under license by no fewer than four other companies, including Arado, Erla, Focke-Wolf and Fieseler.

By the time World War II began in 1939, the Luftwaffe had more than 1,000 Bf 109s in service, and it was to play a major role in all further fighter operations. Allied bombing gradually slowed German aircraft production, but -109s were also built by WNF in Austria, and in Hungary. During and after the war, Messerschmitt exported thousands of Bf-109s to Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Japan, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, the USSR and Yugoslavia. In addition, Spain's Hispano company produced the Bf 109 under license beginning in 1945, calling it the HA-1109. Their HA-1110 and HA-1112 variants were two-seater and modified single seaters, respectively. Several engines were fitted, including the 1300-hp Hispano-Suiza HS-12Z-89 and the 1400-hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 500-45.

Yet another source of Bf 109 production was Czechoslovakia, where the Avia company supplied S-99 and S-199 variants, many of which remained in service until 1957.

Total production is estimated at 35,000, making it one of the most numerous aircraft types of the war.

Nicknames: Augsburg Eagle; Buchon "Pounter Pigeon" (HA-1112); Mezec "Mule" (Avia S-199); Anton (A-Model); Bertha (B-Model); Clara (C-Model); Dora (D-Model); Emil (E-Model); Fritz (F-Model); Gustav (G-Model); Beule/Bump (Bf-109G-1 Trop); Toni (T-Model).

Specifications (Bf-109G-6):
Engine: 1800-hp Daimler-Benz DB-605 inverted V-12 piston engine
Weight: Empty 5,893 lbs., Max Takeoff 6,945 lbs.
Wing Span: 32ft. 6.5in.
Length: 29ft. 7in.
Height: 11ft. 2in.
Performance:
Maximum Speed at at 23,000 ft: 385mph
Ceiling: 38,500 ft
Range: 450 miles
Armament:
Two 13mm (0.51-inch) MG131 machine guns
Three 20mm MG151 cannon

Number Built: ~35,000

Number Still Airworthy: ~10