Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun


The Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun is a single-engine sport and touring aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Bayerische Flugzeugwerke. It was the first aircraft of its size to feature all-metal stressed skin construction.

Design and development

During 1933, the German aircraft manufacturer Bayerische Flugzeugwerke received a contract from the Reichsluftfahrtministerium to produce an aircraft to compete in the 4th Challenge International de Tourisme. The resulting aircraft, which was internally designated as M 37 and subsequently received the official designation Bf 108, was a four-seat sports/recreation aircraft designed by the aeronautical engineer Willy Messerschmitt.
In terms of its design, the Bf 108 represented a departure from many of the company's existing design practices; foremost of which, it was the first aircraft of its size to use all-metal stressed skin construction. The wing featured a patented single-spar design and was equipped with both trailing edge flaps and leading-edge slats, the latter of which deployed automatically when the aircraft neared stall conditions. Initially, all of the flight control surfaces were hinged at their leading edges without any application of dynamical balancing. The legs of the main undercarriage pivoted near the wingroot to retract outwards into wells that almost entirely enclosed them. The aircraft was initially powered by a 250 PS Hirth HM 8U 8.0 litre displacement, air-cooled inverted-V8 engine, which drove a three-blade propeller.
By 1934, six aircraft had been produced. During spring 1934, the prototype Bf 108 conducted its maiden flight; the ensuring flight test programme was relatively smooth. Even during these early flights, the aircraft proved to be relatively safe yet quick, possessing excellent low-speed flight characteristics and being pleasant to fly. Furthermore, the aircraft's metal structure proved to be fairly maintenance-friendly.
During 1934, the first production-standard model, designated Bf 108A, made its first flight. One year later, it was followed by the Bf 108B, which was powered by the substantially larger, 12.67 litre displacement Argus As 10 air-cooled inverted V8 engine. Various other design changes on this model include a revised fin shape, elimination of the upper bracings of the tailplane, the adoption of a tailwheel in place of a skid, and the dynamic balancing of both the elevator and rudder. Only a few Bf 108Bs were completed prior to production of the type being transferred to a new plant in Regensburg. Serial production proceeded at a pace; by 1942, in excess of 500 aircraft had been completed.
The nickname Taifun came from the German pilot Elly Beinhorn, who had given it to her personal aircraft; it was generally adopted thereafter.
During 1941, the Bf 108C was proposed as a specialised aircraft, to be equipped with the powerful Hirth HM 512 inverted-V supercharged air-cooled engine, that was intended to achieve record-breaking performance. However, it was passed over for the Me 208, an enlarged version that featured numerous alterations and improvements, including a retractable tricycle landing gear. Only a pair of prototypes were completed before the end of the Second World War.

Operational history

As planned, the BF 108 participated in the 4th Challenge International de Tourisme. It was outperformed by several other aircraft in the competition, the performance of the type marked it as a popular choice for record flights. Particular among these traits was its low fuel consumption, good handling and superb takeoff and landing characteristics. During the pre-war years, the type was widely flown by private pilots, several of whom were flying officers in Luftwaffe. The majority of aircraft produced went into German ownership, in excess of 50 Bf 108Bs were exported to countries such as Bulgaria, Hungary, Japan, Romania, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, and the Soviet Union.
The type's appearances at various parts of the world helped to bolster the reputation of Messerschmitt and the German aeronautical sector in general. In the mid-to-late 1930s, the Bf 108 was a common sight at aerial competitions, commonly in either first or second place in events such as the 1937 Oases rally in Egypt and the 1938 Belgian international Queen Astrid Race. During July 1939, one aircraft established a new altitude class record of.
Early on in the Second World War, the Bf 108 was formally introduced to service with the Luftwaffe. As a military aircraft, the type was primarily used as a personnel transport and liaison aircraft, ferrying pilots and personnel between air bases. It was also operated by the Luftdienst, where it was typically used to perform target towing and supply operations. The aircraft involved in the Mechelen Incident was a Bf 108 and one served with the small long-range bombing group Sonderkommando Blaich based in Africa.
Mid-way through the conflict, production of the Bf 108 was transferred from Germany to Les Mureaux in occupied France. After the war, these assembly lines remained in the possession of the French aircraft manufacturer SNCAN; that continued production of the type as the Nord 1000 Pingouin. Many of the postwar movie portrayals of the Bf 108 have been performed by the French-built derivatives of the type, which include the Pingouin and the further-improved Nord Noralpha.

Variants

;Bf 108A
;Bf 108B
;Bf 108C:Proposed high-speed version, powered by a 400 PS Hirth HM 512 engine. Probably not built.
;Me 208
;Nord 1000 Pingouin
;Nord 1100 ''Noralpha''

Operators