Designed
by Willy Messerschmitt to compete with Focke-Wolf, Arado, and
Heinkel for a new fighter contract, the prototype Bf 109
first flew in 1935. The Bf 109 fought in the Spanish Civil War
and through all of World War II. Easily the best known German
fighter, over 30,000 were built.
The Bf 109 was license built in Spain by Hispano
Aviacion (a subsidiary of Hispano Suiza) using the designation HA-1112.
Due to the inability to acquire Daimler-Benz engines after the war,
the HA-1112 was later fitted with Rolls-Royce Merlin engines.
The last HA-1112 was phased out of service in 1967.
Specifications
(Bf 109G-6)
Designations
Type: Fighter
Engines: one 1,800 hp (1342 kW)
Daimler-Benz DB 605AM inverted V-12 piston engine
(water/methanol injection)
Bf 109: Bayerische Flugzeugwerke
(Bavarian Aircraft Works) model number
Me 109: this aircraft is sometimes
referred to as the "Me 109" for Messerschmitt model
number.
