| Me 209 | |
|---|---|
 Me 209 with DB 603 engine | |
| General information | |
| Type | Fighterprototype |
| Manufacturer | Messerschmitt |
| Designer | |
| Primary user | Luftwaffe (intended) |
| Number built | 4 |
| History | |
| First flight | 13 November 1943 |
| Retired | 1944 |
TheMe 209 of 1943 was an attempt to create an enhanced version of theBf 109, which served as theLuftwaffe's primaryfighter aircraft throughoutWorld War II.[1] The Me 209, despite its designation, bore no relationship to the earlierMe 209.[2]
TheRLM's8-209 airframe number assigned toMesserschmitt, for its pair ofpost-July 1938 designation Me 209 airframes, was used for two projects during the late 1930s and early 1940s. Thefirst Me 209 was a single-engine air speed record plane for which little consideration was given to adaptation for combat.
The second use of the Me 209 designation was for a proposal, in 1943, to make a heavily modified version of the Bf 109. This Me 209 would compete againstFocke-Wulf's high-performanceFw 190 D-9 andTa 152 fighters. Like these enhanced versions ofKurt Tank's design, the new Me 209 would share most of itsairframe with a proven model, in this case the Bf 109G.
Unfortunately for the design team, the Me 209's proposedDB 603A engine was in short supply and they were forced to use theJunkers Motorenwerke firm'sJumo 213A engine. Even though the 35-litre engine displacement Jumo 213 had been deliberately designed to have as many of its engine access points as possible made to be identical with the 44.52-litre displacement DB 603 powerplant (Germany's largest-displacement inverted V12 aircraft engine), this changeover required some reconstruction of the engine cowling and cooling system. The most visible change was the required one to the engine's air intake location, as the Jumo 213's supercharger intake was located on the starboard side of the engine (as standard for all models of the earlierJunkers Jumo 211 inverted V12), versus the DB 603's portside location, the standard for all Daimler-Benz inverted V12 engine designs. The Me 209 featured a new tail section, wings, wide-tracklanding gear, a taller tail and an annularradiator for theinline engine, which gave the engine a superficial resemblance to aradial engine and to the very similar installation on theFocke-Wulf Fw 190D, which used the same Jumo 213 powerplant. The extent of the modifications undermined the original purpose, which was to build a superior aircraft as similar to the existing Bf 109G as possible.[3]
TheMe 209 V5 featured armament of oneMotorkanone engine-mounted 30 mm (1.18 in)MK 108 cannon plus two 13 mm (.51 in)MG 131 machine guns in thewing roots. TheV6 was the first version to be converted to use the Jumo 213 engine and had 20 mmMG 151/20 cannon instead of the MG 131s. TheMe 209H V1 was a high-altitude variant with extended wings and DB 603 engine.
The program met a swift end when the Me 209 V5 prototype first flew in late 1943. It was 50 km/h (31 mph) slower than the Fw 190D and offered no improvement in handling characteristics.[1] After its disappointing show, the Me 209 project was cancelled.
Data from[citation needed]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Related development
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