Messerschmitt Me 309
Messerschmitt · Germany · first flew 1942 · fighter
A German single-seat fighter prototype intended to succeed the Bf 109, notable for its tricycle undercarriage.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | framed canopy set well back on the fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- low tapered wing paired with a tricycle undercarriage
- long, slim nose over a liquid-cooled inline engine
- framed canopy set well back on the fuselage
The nose-wheel undercarriage, unusual for a wartime German fighter, is the clearest way to tell it from the tailwheel Bf 109.
Specifications
- The Messerschmitt Me 309 has a length of 9.46 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.04 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 733 km/h (455 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Messerschmitt flew the Me 309 in 1942 hoping to replace the ageing Bf 109, but persistent problems with its nose-wheel gear, cooling and handling meant it never matched the performance gains hoped for, and the programme was cancelled in favour of continued Bf 109 and Fw 190 production.
Variants
Several prototypes trialled different armament and radiator arrangements, but no production version was built.
Where you'll see it
It never entered squadron service, remaining a test and evaluation type only.
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- Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2
- Messerschmitt Bf 109G
- Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6
- Messerschmitt Me 262
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- Bereznyak-Isayev BI-1
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