What does BF mean in Bf 109?
Originally the aircraft was designated as Bf 109 by the RLM, since the design was submitted by the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (literally “Bavarian Aircraft Works”, meaning “Bavarian Aircraft Factory”; sometimes abbreviated B.F.W., akin to BMW) during 1935.
How many guns are in a me109?
It had a maximum speed of 342 mph (550 km) and had a range of 410 miles (660 km). It was 28 ft 4 in (8.65 m) long with a wingspan of 32 ft 4 in (9.87 m). The aircraft was armed with 2 machine-guns and 2 20 mm cannons.
Why did the BF 109 have a yellow nose?
The yellow nose paint was first introduced on 109’s during the Polish campaign as a recognition marking to avoid ”friendly” fire from the Wehrmacht when operating on ground strafing missions; I have read that the Luftwaffe lost more 109’s this way in Poland than were actually lost in combat, and hence the yellow became …
What kind of plane was the Messerschmitt Bf 109?
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 , also erroneously called Me 109, was a World War II fighter aircraft designed in the mid 1930s, the first truly modern fighter of the era combining the features of all-metal monocoque construction, a closed canopy and a retractable landing gear.
Why was the Bf 109 used in World War 2?
During the latter part of the war, the Bf 109 was the selected aircraft that was used in the Rammkommando ELBE because of its lighter weight compared to the Fw 190. Between January and October 1942, a further 18 German pilots joined the select group that had now reached 100 kills over the Eastern Front.
What was the top speed of the Bf 109?
Using MW 50 and maximum boost the Bf 109 K-4 was the fastest 109 of World War II, reaching a maximum speed of 710 km/h (440 mph) at 7,500 m (24,600 ft) altitude. Without MW 50 and using 1.80 ata the K-4 reached 670 km/h (416 mph) at 9,000 m (30,000 ft).
How many Bf 109Ds were made by Focke Wulf?
The D-2 was an experimental version with an engine-mounted machine gun, but as previously tried, this installation failed. The D-3 was similar to the C-3 but with two 20 mm MG FFs in the wings. A total of 647 Bf 109Ds of all versions were built by Focke-Wulf, Erla, Fieseler, Arado and AGO.