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| Messerschmitt Bf-109E4 |
Technically speaking she is the Bf-109, the "Bf" standing for Bayerische Flugzeugwerke, (Bavarian Aircraft Works). I have seen references indicating that after a certain date the plane became "officially" the Me-109, in official Luftwaffe terms the aircraft remained (officially) the Bf-109 throughout her lifetime.
One of the aircraft's designers, Willy Messerschmitt purchased the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke, hence the "Me-109" designation. It was not unknown to see both "Me-109" and "Bf-109" in the same official Luftwaffe document!
According to Wikipedia:
All extant airframes bear the official "Bf 109" designation on their identification plates, including the final K-4 models, with the notable exception of aircraft either initially built or re-fitted by the Erla Maschinenwerke at Leipzig, which sometimes bear the erroneous Me 109 stamping.Bureaucrats, neh?
At any rate, here's some great footage of a "May-hundert-neun" (as my old Oberstleutnant used to call her). This particular Bf-109E4 (Emil) saw action in the Battle of Britain. This particular aircraft was forced down (belly landed) and has been restored to flying condition. She currently lives in Canada.
A few facts:
- The Bf-109 was at one time the fastest aircraft in the world...
- The Bf-109 was the most mass produced fighter in history...
- The Bf-109 was flown by the top scoring 5% of fighter aces of all time...
- The Bf-109 scored more aerial victories than any other aircraft in aerial combat history...
By the way, I think the music in this video goes nicely with the footage.
The music wasn't bad, the vid was great in full-screen. Ain't the Tube o' You just GRAND?
ReplyDeleteThe Tube of You provides me with hours of entertainment. And blog-fodder, of course.
DeleteGreat video, and one scary airplane... especially for the Americans that had to go one on one with it!
ReplyDeleteAt certain angles it is shark-like in silhouette.
DeleteWould have hoped there was more to the starting sequence. At least some of them had an inertia starter. Ground crew would crank a flywheel port side at the rear of the engine. When there was enough rpm, they would use a clutch to turn the engine crankshaft. Bet that was special in Russian winters.
ReplyDeleteI did notice a guy on the port side of the nose when they were starting the engine. Not sure what (if anything) he was doing.
DeleteShould have said starboard side.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sz5t-m9IOE
I checked out the video (nice by the way) and yeah, cranking that starter handle must have been all sorts of fun on the Eastern Front during the winter!
DeleteThat is just too damn nice. I so need one.
ReplyDeleteSweet innit?
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