Messerschmitt Bf 109

Contest history

During 1933 the Technisches Amt (or T-Amt, the technical department of the RLM) concluded a series of research projects into the future of air combat. The result of the studies was four broad outlines for future aircraft:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Rüstungsflugzeug I for a multi-place medium bomber
• Rüstungsflugzeug II for a tactical bomber
• Rüstungsflugzeug III for a two-seat heavy fighter
• Rüstungsflugzeug IV for a single-seat fighter

The Rüstungsflugzeug IV was intended to be an all-metal monoplane single seat fighter aircraft, or interceptor actually, replacing the Arado Ar 64 and Heinkel He 60 biplanes then in service. While it was intended the R-IV aircraft would best all others then flying, the requirements were nevertheless not terribly hard to meet.

Related Topics:
Fighter aircraft - Interceptor - Arado Ar 64 - Heinkel He 60

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The plane needed to have a top speed of 400 km/h at 6000 m (250 mph at 19,500 ft) which it could maintain for 20 minutes, while staying in the air for a total of 90 minutes. It was to be powered by the new Junkers Jumo 210 engine of about 700 hp (522 kW). It also needed to be armed with at least three 7.9 mm machine guns with 1000 rounds each, or one 20 mm cannon with 200 rounds. One other interesting specification was that the plane needed to keep wing loading below 100 kg/m², which is a way of defining the plane's ability to turn and climb. The priorities for the plane were level speed, climb speed, and then maneuverability (in that order).

Related Topics:
Junkers Jumo 210 - Machine gun

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In fact the R-IV specifications were not really thought up inside the T-Amt at all. In early 1933 both Heinkel and Arado had sent in privately-funded designs for a monoplane fighter, and the T-Amt simply collected the best features from both and sent them back out again, adding Focke-Wulf to the tender. In May 1934 the R-IV request was sent out and made official. Each was asked to deliver three prototypes to be delivered for head-to-head testing in late 1934.

Related Topics:
Heinkel - Arado - Focke-Wulf

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Willy Messerschmitt was originally not invited to participate in the competition. This was mainly due to personal animosity between Messerschmitt and Erhard Milch, director of the RLM, after an earlier airliner design of his had proved a disaster in Lufthansa use. Nevertheless Messerschmitt was on very good terms with many high ranking Luftwaffe officers based on the success of the Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun sports plane. After a delay of several months, Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (Bavarian Aircraft Manufacturers, or BFW) for which Messerschmitt was head designer, was invited to take part in early 1935, although Milch let it be known that they would never win the contract.

Related Topics:
Erhard Milch - Lufthansa - Messerschmitt Bf 108 - Bayerische Flugzeugwerke

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~