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Messerschmitt Bf 108
| Bf 108 Taifun | |
|---|---|
| Type | Communications |
| Manufacturer | Bayerische Flugzeugwerke |
| Designed by | Willy Messerschmitt |
| Maiden flight | 1934 |
| Primary users | Luftwaffe Royal Air Force Armée de l’Air |
| Variants | Nord 1000 |
The Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun was a German single-engined sports and touring aircraft developed by Bayerische Flugzeugwerke. The Bf 108 was of modern, all metal construction, and the famous Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter plane used many of the same design features.
Contents
Design and development
Originally designated the M-37, the aircraft was specifically designed as a two-seat sports/recreation aircraft for competition in the 4th Challenge de Tourisme Internationale (1934). [1] The M 37 prototype flew first in spring 1934 powered by a 250 hp Hirth HM 8U inverted-V piston engine, which drove a three-bladed propeller.
Although it was outclassed by lighter aircraft in the competition, the M 37's performance clearly marked it as a popular choice for record flights. One of the first major changes made to the production variants was to adapt the fuselage for a four-seat configuration. Soon after the first production aircraft began to roll off the assembly line in Augsburg, several Bf 108s had set new endurance records, one of which led to its "christening."
The A version first flew in 1934, followed by the B version in 1935. The B version used the Argus As 10 inverted V, air cooled engine. The nickname Taifun (German for "typhoon") was given to the aircraft by German aviatrix Elly Beinhorn, the second woman to fly solo around the world.
Operational history
The Bf 108 was adopted into Luftwaffe service during World War II, where it was primarily used as a personnel transport and liaison aircraft. The plane involved in the famous Mechelen Incident was a Bf 108.
Production of the Bf 108 was transferred to occupied France during World War II and production continued after the war as the Nord 1000 Pingouin.
Variants
- M-37/Bf 108A
- Initial version designed in 1934 for use in Challenge 1934.
- Bf 108B
- Improved version designed in 1935. This four-seat cabin aircraft was powered by a 201-kW (270-hp) Argus As 10c engine.
- Bf 108C
- Proposed high-speed version, powered by a 298 kW (400 hp) Hirth HM 512 engine. Not built.
- Me 208
- Improved version with a retractable tricycle landing gear. Two prototypes were built by SNCAN in France during the war.
- Nord 1000 Pingouin
- Bf 108 built postwar by Nord Aviation in France. Followed by the Nord 1001 and Nord 1002.
Operators
- Armée de l’Air operated captured Bf 108s and postwar built Nord 1000 aircraft.
- Polish Air Force operated a few captured Bf 108s postwar.
- Soviet Air Force operated several captured Bf 108s.
- Royal Air Force impounded four Bf 108s on the outbreak of World War II and put into service, where they were designated Messerschmitt Aldon. As a light communications aircraft, it was the fastest type the RAF had at the time, but they caused some confusion by being mistaken for attacking Bf 109s.
- A single Bf 108B was purchased by the U.S. Military Attaché for Air in the spring of 1939 for $14,378 and designated XC-44. It was repossessed by the Nazi government in December 1941 (after having been condemned in November).
Specifications (Bf 108)
Template:Aircraft specification
Popular culture
- Bf 108s, or perhaps postwar Nord 1000s, played the role of Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters in some movies, including 633 Squadron and Von Ryan's Express.
See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
- List of military aircraft of Germany
- List of aircraft of the RAF
- List of military aircraft of the United States
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Craig, James F. The Messerschmitt Bf.109. New York: Arco Publishing Company, 1968.
- Cross, Roy and Scarborough, Gerald. Messerschmitt Bf 109 Versions B-E. London: Patrick Stevens, 1972. ISBN 0-85059-106-6.
- Feist, Uwe. The Fighting Me 109. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1993, ISBN 1-85409-209-X.
- Hitchcock, Thomas H. Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun (Monogram Close-Up 5). Acton, MA: Monogram Aviation Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-914144-05-7.
External links
Template:RLM aircraft designations Template:USAF transports
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
cs:Messerschmitt Bf 108 de:Messerschmitt Bf 108 fr:Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun it:Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun ja:Bf 108 (航空機) nl:Messerschmitt Bf 108 no:Messerschmitt Bf 108 pl:Messerschmitt Bf 108 ru:Мессершмитт Bf.108 fi:Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun
| This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Messerschmitt Bf 108". |
