Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun

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Bf 108 Taifun
Bf108-Rimensberger.JPG
D-EBFW, a 1937-built Bf 108B-1 painted to represent a pre-war company demonstrator D-IBFW
RoleSport and touring aircraft
Manufacturer Bayerische Flugzeugwerke
Designer Willy Messerschmitt
First flight1934
Introduction1935
Retired1945
Primary users Luftwaffe
Armée de l'Air
Manchukuo National Airways
Number built885 [1]
Variants Nord 1000 Pingouin
Nord Noralpha

The Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun (English: "Typhoon") was a German single-engine sport and touring aircraft, developed by Bayerische Flugzeugwerke in the 1930s. The Bf 108 was of all-metal construction.

Contents

Design and development

Originally designated the M 37, the aircraft was designed as a four-seat sports/recreation aircraft for competition in the 4th Challenge International de Tourisme (1934). [2] [3] The M 37 prototype flew first in spring 1934, powered by a 250 PS (247 hp, 184 kW) Hirth HM 8U 8.0 litre displacement, air-cooled inverted-V8 engine, which drove a three-blade propeller.

Although it was outperformed by several other aircraft in the competition, the M 37's overall performance marked it as a popular choice for record flights. Particular among these traits was its low fuel consumption rate, good handling, and superb takeoff and landing characteristics.

The Bf 108A first flew in 1934, followed by the Bf 108B in 1935. The Bf 108B used the substantially larger, 12.67 litre displacement Argus As 10 air-cooled inverted V8 engine. The nickname Taifun (German for "typhoon") was given to her own aircraft by Elly Beinhorn, a well-known German pilot, and was generally adopted. [4]

Operational history

Soon after the first production aircraft began to roll off the assembly line in Augsburg, several Bf 108s had set endurance records.

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 aircraft involved in the Mechelen Incident was a Bf 108, and a Bf 108 served with the small long-range bombing group Sonderkommando Blaich based in Africa.[ citation needed ]

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

Theo Osterkamp and his wife, Fel Gudrun, with a Messerschmitt Bf 108 (1938) Bundesarchiv Bild 183-H16409, Theo Osterkamp mit Gattin, Me 108 Taifun.jpg
Theo Osterkamp and his wife, Fel Gudrun, with a Messerschmitt Bf 108 (1938)
Bf 108A
Initial version designed in 1934 for use in Challenge 1934. Six were built with the Hirth HM 8U, one other initially had a 220 PS (217 hp, 162 kW) Argus As 17B inline engine and later a 160 PS (158 hp, 118 kW) Siemens-Halske Sh 14 radial. [4]
Bf 108B
Revised version, built from late 1935. The prototype had a Siemens-Halske Sh 14A radial, but production machines used the 240 PS (237 hp, 177 kW) Argus As 10C or the 270 PS (266 hp, 199 kW) Argus As 10E. A quadrant-shaped rather than rectangular rear window, tailwheel replacing skid, revision of shape of empennage and removal of tailplane upper bracing. [4]
Bf 108C
Proposed high-speed version, powered by a 400 PS (395 hp, 294 kW) Hirth HM 512 engine. Probably not built. [4]
Me 208
Improved and enlarged version with a retractable tricycle landing gear. Two prototypes were built by SNCAN (Nord) in France during the war. After 1945 Nord continued its production as the Nord Noralpha.
Nord 1000 Pingouin
Bf 108 built during and after the war by SNCAN in France; followed by the Nord 1001, that had only minor variations and the Nord 1002, which used a Renault engine.
Nord 1100 Noralpha
Bf 108 derivative built after the war by SNCAN in France with tricycle landing gear and a Renault engine.

Operators

Bf 108 B-1, Lufthansa's D-EBEI at Duxford 2009 Bf 108 Taifun.JPG
Bf 108 B-1, Lufthansa's D-EBEI at Duxford 2009
Bf 108B Taifun, Messerschmitt-Stiftung Me108 Start.jpg
Bf 108B Taifun, Messerschmitt-Stiftung
The Bf 108 as used by the Swiss Air Force during World War II. Aviation Museum / Flieger-Flab-Museum in Dubendorf, Switzerland. Swiss Air Force Messerschmitt Bf 108.jpg
The Bf 108 as used by the Swiss Air Force during World War II. Aviation Museum / Flieger-Flab-Museum in Dübendorf, Switzerland.
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  China
Flag of Independent State of Croatia.svg  Independent State of Croatia
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia
Flag of France (1794-1958).svg  France
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Nazi Germany
Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946).svg  Hungary
Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Italy
Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg  Japan
Flag of Manchukuo.svg  Manchukuo
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
Flag of the USSR (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States
Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Kingdom of Yugoslavia

Specifications (Bf 108B)

Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1938, [5] Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945 Vol.3 – Flugzeugtypen Henschel-Messerschmitt [6]

General characteristics

Performance

2,000 m (6,600 ft) in 7 minutes 30 seconds
3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 14 minutes
4,000 m (13,000 ft) in 22 minutes
5,000 m (16,000 ft) in 39 minutes

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

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References

Notes

  1. Smith 1971, p. 142.
  2. Schulz, R. and W. Pleines. "Technical Memorandums No. 760 - Technical Aspects of the 1934 International Touring Competition (Rundflug)." National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, December 1934. Retrieved: 13 March 2010.
  3. Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Smith 1971, pp. 36–37.
  5. Grey, C.G.; Bridgman, Leonard, eds. (1938). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1938. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 136c.
  6. Nowarra, Heinz J. (1993). Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945 Vol.3 – Flugzeugtypen Henschel-Messerschmitt (in German). Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe Verlag. pp. 187–189, 266–267. ISBN   978-3-7637-5467-0.
  7. Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

Bibliography