Messerschmitt Me 209
Messerschmitt · Germany · first flew 1938 · fighter
The Messerschmitt Me 209 V1 was a purpose-built German air speed record aircraft that set an absolute piston-engine world air speed record of 755.138 km/h on 26 April 1939 — a record that stood for nearly 30 years. It was entirely unrelated to the later Me 209 II fighter prototype.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Tiny racing aircraft with minimal fuselage and cramped cockpit |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- German absolute air speed record holder of 1939 at 755 km/h
- Tiny racing aircraft with minimal fuselage and cramped cockpit
- Later Me 209 II was a different, conventional fighter prototype
Recognisable by its extremely small size, tiny wing, large propeller spinner and minimal fuselage; the oil cooler installation in the wing roots and steam-cooled surface radiators are characteristic of the record-breaking configuration.
Specifications
- The Messerschmitt Me 209 has a length of 7.24 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.8 m (26 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 755 km/h (469 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed purely to break the world speed record, the Me 209 V1 was a tiny, extremely powerful aircraft with a DB 601ARJ engine boosted with methanol-water injection. The record was officially set under the designation Bf 109R for propaganda purposes by Messerschmitt. The aircraft was extremely difficult to fly and not suitable for any military role.
Variants
Four V (Versuchs — prototype) aircraft were built; the later Me 209 II was a completely different fighter design that shared only the designation.
Where you'll see it
The Me 209 never entered Luftwaffe service; it was a pure record-breaking aircraft.
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