Plague: BF-109 Messerschmitt 1935

BF-109 Messerschmitt 1935

BF-109 in Time to Bail Out

Created by Willy Messerschmitt, it became airborne on the 28th May 1935. It was employed by the Hungarian Air Force, Luttwaffe, the Italian Social Republic and the Romanian Air Force. Over 33 000 units were deployed, making it the highest produced fighter aircraft in World War II, and in history. It is considered to be the first truly fighter aircraft, and three Aces of World War II flew in it, the highest recorded was 158 kills, by German fighter pilot Hans-Joachim Marseille.

Structure: 

fully metal & monocoque, closed canopy, retractable landing hear

single seat

Wingspan - 32 ft 4.5 in.

Length - 28 ft 8 in.

Height - 11 ft 2in.

Wing Area - 174 sq. ft.

Engine:

1200 hp, Daimler-Benz DB 601N liquid cooled inverted V-12 cylinder piston engine

Flight parameters:

Climb rate - 3300 feet per minute

Max. speed - 358 mph

Range - 680 miles

Armament:

1x Hub Firing 20mm cannon 

4x 7.9 mm machine guns (situated at top of engine cowling and wings)

Function:

bomber escort, interceptor, ground-attack, reconnaisance

Disadvantage:

short range

difficult to handle narrow, outward retracting undercarriage