TheMesserschmitt Bf 108Taifun(English: "Typhoon") was a German single-engine sport and touring aircraft, developed byBayerische Flugzeugwerkein the 1930s. The Bf 108 was of all-metal construction.
Originally designated theM 37,the aircraft was designed as a four-seat sports/recreation aircraft for competition in the4thChallenge International de Tourisme(1934).[2][3]The M 37prototypeflew first in spring 1934, powered by a 250 PS (247 hp, 184 kW)Hirth HM 8U8.0 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 displacementArgus As 10air-cooled inverted V8 engine. The nicknameTaifun(German for "typhoon" ) was given to her own aircraft byElly Beinhorn,a well-known German pilot, and was generally adopted.[4]
Theo Osterkampand his wife, Fel Gudrun, with a Messerschmitt Bf 108 (1938)
Bf 108A
Initial version designed in 1934 for use inChallenge 1934.Six were built with the Hirth HM 8U, one other initially had a 220 PS (217 hp, 162 kW)Argus As 17Binline engine and later a 160 PS (158 hp, 118 kW)Siemens-Halske Sh 14radial.[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 10Cor 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 512engine. Probably not built.[4]
Me 208
Improved and enlarged version with a retractabletricycle landing gear.Two prototypes were built bySNCAN (Nord)in France during the war. After 1945 Nord continued its production as theNord Nor Alpha.
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.
Bf 108 B-1, Lufthansa's D-EBEI at Duxford 2009Bf 108B Taifun, Messerschmitt-StiftungThe Bf 108 as used by the Swiss Air Force during World War II. Aviation Museum /Flieger-Flab-Museumin Dübendorf, Switzerland.
Royal Air ForceRAF Aldonoperated four Bf 108s, under the designation "Messerschmitt Aldon", which were impressed from private owners on the outbreak of the war. Reportedly they were the fastest light communications aircraft the RAF had, but they were also sometimes mistaken forBf 109salthough there is no record of any fatal encounters. Postwar, 15 more captured Bf 108s flew in RAF colours until the mid 1950s.[4]
United States Army Air Corps- in early 1939, a single Bf 108B was purchased for $14,378 and designatedXC-44.It was used only by the USair attachéin Berlin. In November 1941, the aircraft was assessed as unserviceable. The airframe was seized by theNazigovernment, following the commencement of hostilities, in December.
^Grey, C.G.; Bridgman, Leonard, eds. (1938).Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1938.London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 136c.
^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.ISBN978-3-7637-5467-0.
Cross, Roy and Gerald Scarborough.Messerschmitt Bf 109 Versions B-E(Classic Aircraft No. 2, Their History and How to Model Them). London: Patrick Stevens, 1972.ISBN0-85059-106-6.
Feist, Uwe.The Fighting Me 109.London: Arms and Armour Press, 1993.ISBN1-85409-209-X.
Grey, C.G. "Messerschmitt Bf 108."Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1938.London: David & Charles, 1972.ISBN0-7153-5734-4.
Kulikov, Victor (March 2000). "Des occasions en or pour Staline, ou les avions allemands en URSS" [Golden Opportunities for Stalin, or German Aircraft in the USSR].Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire(in French) (84): 16–23.ISSN1243-8650.
Kulikov, Victor (April 2000). "Des occasions en or pour Staline, ou les avions allemands en URSS".Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire(in French) (85): 44–49.ISSN1243-8650.
Lucchini, Carlo (April 1999). "Le meeting saharien de 1938" [The 1938 Sahara Air Meeting].Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire(in French) (73): 53–57.ISSN1243-8650.
Smith, J. Richard.Messerschmitt: An Aircraft Album.London: Ian Allan, 1971.ISBN978-0-7110-0224-1.
Sinnhuber, Karl (2012).Salzburg To Stalingrad.UK: Milton Keynes.ISBN9781471702228.
