Author Topic: For anyone who has ANY interest in the Bf-109... (Read 3621 times)

Serenity · « **on:** June 08, 2007, 03:31:29 PM »

Alright, I was going through my library of documents, and I stumbled on a GREAT Bf-109 article. Its from a website, but I cannot remember which website, and have been unable to locate it. I was gonna just post it directly here, but its 98 pages long. So, if anyone would like a copy of it, drop me an e-mail at Echo5dash7@hotmail.com and Ill pass it along. Its a very long read, took me two days to get through it all and take notes, but its well worth it for anyone interested in this aircraft.

EsX_Raptor · « **Reply #1 on:** June 08, 2007, 04:19:41 PM »

Right here man.

Edit: Oh yes, esx_raptor@hotmail.com

Serenity · « **Reply #2 on:** June 08, 2007, 04:34:36 PM »

Okay, lol, someone was kind enough to give me the site, so ill post a link.

Bf-109 Article

EsX_Raptor · « **Reply #3 on:** June 08, 2007, 04:36:00 PM »

Awesome.

Benny Moore · « **Reply #4 on:** June 08, 2007, 05:03:58 PM »

I am trying very hard to restrain myself. So all I will say is that the Finnish fighter pilot who said that "the cockpit wasn't unnecessary roomy" must have been a midget. I had the opportunity to sit in an Me-109 recently, and although I am a small man (about five foot ten and a hundred twenty-five pounds), I had a great deal of difficulty fitting in. My knees were practically touching my chin, and there was little room to move the stick. It's a good thing the fuel tank was so small, because a several hour flight must have been agony.

1K3 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 08, 2007, 05:21:32 PM »

Being a 5'10" is small man?

I say that's mainstream height:aok

Karnak · « **Reply #6 on:** June 08, 2007, 05:32:51 PM »

US mean height for men is 5'8" last I heard.

Meyer · « **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2007, 05:42:28 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Benny Moore
It's a good thing the fuel tank was so small, because a several hour flight must have been agony.

Wasn't so small, was bigger than the ones in most Spitfire and P-39 versions, for example. And it could indeed fly several hours.

So lucky for you that you weren't a 109 pilot

1K3 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 08, 2007, 05:43:38 PM »

Just bring a cushion for your buttocks and you'll be fine:aok

Benny Moore · « **Reply #9 on:** June 08, 2007, 06:03:39 PM »

With a cushion, the canopy would not close. There's not two inches to spare. The guy said that you had to taxi with the canopy open unless you were really short, or bumping over the grass would smack your head.

MiloMorai · « **Reply #10 on:** June 08, 2007, 08:20:10 PM »

Must have played hell with the canopy hinge since the canopy was so heavy.

Sure Meyer, what ever you say

Benny Moore · « **Reply #11 on:** June 08, 2007, 09:17:42 PM »

If you're actually implying that I'm a liar, then I have nothing to say to you. If you're not, then I'd like to point out that either the Me-109's seat is higher than the Spitfire's, or the Spitfire also has a room problem. I know that United States fighters had absolutely no room problem. I could fit at least three people my size in the cockpit of the P-47, whereas I couldn't even take a large cat in with me in the 109.

Serenity · « **Reply #12 on:** June 08, 2007, 09:26:10 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Benny Moore
If you're actually implying that I'm a liar, then I have nothing to say to you. If you're not, then I'd like to point out that either the Me-109's seat is higher than the Spitfire's, or the Spitfire also has a room problem. I know that United States fighters had absolutely no room problem. I could fit at least three people my size in the cockpit of the P-47, whereas I couldn't even take a large cat in with me in the 109.

All the comments ive heard from former RAF spitfire pilots, both in books and interviews all agree. The Bf-109 is INCREDIBLY cramped for space, both in height and width. An interesting difference, is that the whole cockpit, not just the seat is higher, meaning your legs are exntended almost directly in front of you to the rudder pedals, as if you were sitting on the ground. This helped keep the blood near your head, and gave Bf-109 pilots a noticably better 'G' tolerance.

Meyer · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2007, 09:34:52 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by MiloMorai

Sure Meyer, what ever you say

? all I said was that the fuel tank in the 109 was bigger, and as it carried more fuel, it has to, don't you think?

Serenity · « **Reply #14 on:** June 08, 2007, 09:52:55 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Meyer
? all I said was that the fuel tank in the 109 was bigger, and as it carried more fuel, it has to, don't you think?

Did it carry more fuel, or was the Daimler-Benz just more efficient?