Messerschmitt
Me 309
Me 409
Me 509
Me 609
Me 309V3
MesserschmittMe 309Me 409Me 509Me 609 |
Me 309V3 |
The Messerschmitt Me 309 was proposed as an advanced replacement for the venerable Bf 109 fighter. Its design features included tricycle landing gear, retractable radiators and coolers and a pressurized cockpit. These concepts were first tested on four modified Bf 109F prototypes, the Bf 109V24, V30, V30A and V31. Nine prototypes were planned, with the first, the Me 309V1, being rolled-out in June of 1942. However, during taxiing trials, wobble problems were experienced with the nose gear (which had been utilized instead of a conventional "tail-dragger" layout in hopes of preventing this very problem). After trying several different tail configurations (sources vary between two and five), the V1 took to the air, but more problems arose with the cooling system, resulting in a brief flight of only seven minutes duration. Three additional protoypes were built, but so many accidents (mostly involving the troublesome landing gear) occurred that parts meant for the remaining prototypes were needed to keep the existing aircraft flyable.
Messerschmitt proposed several production versions. The Me 309A was the proposed production fighter version; a dive-bomber variant, the Me 309B, was also proposed. Further devolopments included the Me 409 (either an enlarged version of the Me 309 or a twin-fuselage variant with Me 209 fuselages and Me 155 wings), the Me 509 with the powerplant in the fuselage behind the cockpit, and the Me 609, another twin-fuselage version based on the Me 309 and intended as a Zerstörer and Schnellbomber (heavy fighter and high-speed bomber). None of these variants were built, however. There had never been much offical interest in the Me 309, mostly because it would have drained resources from existing production aircraft. This was heightened by the trouble-plagued Me 309 prototypes, and also by the fact that the Me 309 was only marginally faster then the Bf 109G, and maneouverability and stability were actually poorer. The Me 309 prototypes were then used as armament, ejection seat and pressurization testbeds for the Me 262 jet fighter program. Sources do not reveal the ultimate fate of the Me 309 prototypes.
Timeline
| Specifications | Me 309V1 | Me 309V2 | Me 309V3 | Me 309V4 | Me 309A-1 | Me 309A-2 | Me 309B-1 |
| Designer(s) | Dr-Ing. Willi Messerschmitt (?) | Dr-Ing. Willi Messerschmitt (?) | Dr-Ing. Willi Messerschmitt (?) | Dr-Ing. Willi Messerschmitt (?) | Dr-Ing. Willi Messerschmitt (?) | Dr-Ing. Willi Messerschmitt (?) | Dr-Ing. Willi Messerschmitt (?) |
| Mission Type | Fighter prototype, Me 262 development | Fighter prototype, Me 262 development | Fighter prototype, Me 262 development | Fighter prototype, Me 262 development | Fighter | Heavy fighter | Dive bomber |
| Powerplant | 1 x Daimler-Benz DB 603A-1 V-12 inline liquid-cooled piston | 1 x 1,475 hp Daimler-Benz DB 605B V-12 inline liquid-cooled piston | 1 x 1,475 hp Daimler-Benz DB 605B V-12 inline liquid-cooled piston | 1 x 1,475 hp Daimler-Benz DB 605B V-12 inline liquid-cooled piston | 1 x DB 605B, or 1 x 1,750 hp Daimler-Benz DB 603A, or 1 x Junkers Jumo 213 | 1 x DB 605B, or 1 x 1,750 hp Daimler-Benz DB 603A, or 1 x Junkers Jumo 213 | 1 x DB 605B, or 1 x 1,750 hp Daimler-Benz DB 603A, or 1 x Junkers Jumo 213 |
| Dimensions | |||||||
| Span | -- | -- | -- | 36 ft 1 in (11 m) | -- | -- | -- |
| Length | -- | -- | -- | 32 ft 7 in (9.93 m) | -- | -- | -- |
| Height | -- | -- | -- | 11 ft 3 in (3.43 m) | -- | -- | -- |
| Wing area | -- | -- | -- | 177.39 sq ft (16.5 m2) | -- | -- | -- |
| Weights | |||||||
| Empty | -- | -- | -- | ? | -- | -- | -- |
| Loaded | -- | -- | -- | ? | -- | -- | -- |
| Gross | -- | -- | -- | ? | -- | -- | -- |
| Max | -- | -- | -- | 10,736 lb (4,870 kg) | -- | -- | -- |
| Performance | |||||||
| Max speed | -- | -- | -- | 360 mph @ 7,220 ft (580 km/hr @ 2,200 m) | -- | -- | -- |
| Cruise speed | -- | -- | -- | ? | -- | -- | -- |
| Initial climb rate | -- | -- | -- | ? | -- | -- | -- |
| Time to 13,125 ft (4,000 m) | -- | -- | -- | 5 min 12 sec | -- | -- | -- |
| Service ceiling | -- | -- | -- | 37,400 ft (11,400 m) | -- | -- | -- |
| Range | -- | -- | -- | 683 miles (1,100 km) | -- | -- | -- |
| Endurance | -- | -- | -- | ? | -- | -- | -- |
| Armament | -- | -- | -- |
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| Crew | One | One | One | One | One | One | One |
| User | Germany | Germany | Germany | Germany | Germany | Germany | Germany |
| Number built | One | One | One | One | None | None | None |
| Construction Numbers | ? | ? | ? | ? | -- | -- | -- |
| Serial Numbers | ? | ? | ? | ? | -- | -- | -- |
| Luftwaffe codes | GE+CU | ? | GE+CW | ? | -- | -- | -- |
Me 309V4
| Specifications | Me 409 | Me 509 | Me 609 |
| Designer(s) | Dr-Ing. Willi Messerschmitt (?) | Dr-Ing. Willi Messerschmitt (?) | Dr-Ing. Willi Messerschmitt (?) |
| Mission Type | Fighter? | Fighter? | Heavy fighter, high-speed bomber |
| Powerplant | ? | 1 x DB 605B | 2 x 2,000 hp Daimler-Benz DB 603G, or 2 x DB 605 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | -- | 37 ft (11.27 m) | 52 ft 6 in (15.75 m) |
| Length | -- | 32 ft 7 in (9.94 m) | 31 ft 11 in (9.72 m) |
| Height | -- | 13 ft 1 in (3.98 m) | 11 ft 3 in (3.43 m) |
| Wing area | -- | -- | -- |
| Weights | |||
| Empty | -- | -- | 11,660 lb (5,247 kg) |
| Loaded | -- | -- | 14,520 lb (6,534 kg) |
| Gross | -- | -- | -- |
| Max | -- | -- | -- |
| Performance | |||
| Max speed | -- | -- | 472 mph (760 km/hr) |
| Cruise speed | -- | -- | -- |
| Initial climb rate | -- | -- | -- |
| Time to altitude | -- | -- | -- |
| Service ceiling | -- | -- | -- |
| Range | -- | -- | -- |
| Endurance | -- | -- | -- |
| Armament | ? |
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| Crew | Two? | One | One |
| User | Germany | Germany | Germany |
| Number built | None | None | None |
| Construction Numbers | -- | -- | -- |
| Serial Numbers | -- | -- | -- |
Me 309V1
Via Eric Bond
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© 1997-2005, Robert Beechy
http://cloud.prohosting.com/uncommon/aircraft/me309/index.html
Originally posted 29 March 1998
Modified: 01/01/2005
