Bf/Me 109 flaps or combat flaps information

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jugggo

Airman
57
3
Jul 8, 2009
Hey guys I am back with a quest on finding information about 109 flaps how they were used when they were used in flight or in combat.

Any help would be most excellent.

Thanks in advance
 
Hi,

the 109 flaps could get used without steps by a wheel on the left side of the cockpit, next to the elevator trim wheel, not far away from the throttle.

According to the british 109E test flaps didnt help while turning, though wingis of H.J.Marsaille wrote that he did use them to be able to turn inside of Hurris and P40´s. If this was done only to slow down or to increase the lift is not clear to me.
In general they dont got used in combat, cause main knowledge was "speed is all" and flaps decrease the speed.
If flaps got used in combat, max 15° would be logically, cause only in this area the flaps increase the lift more than the drag. In case of the 109, where the alerons also goes down with the flaps, the flaps goes virtuelly over the whole wing span, so they should have a positive influence, though, i never saw a real turn test regarding this.

Would be intersting to know up to what speed around 0-10° flaps could get used and what impact this have to the flight behaviour.

Greetings,

Knegel
 
Flaps may or may have not improved turn rate, but they surely improved turn radius by quite a margin. From 1939 Bf 109E specifications booklet:

Without use of flaps :
at 0 m altitude - 170 m (557 feet), at 6000 m (19 685 feet) altitude - 320 m (1050 feet).

With use of flaps :
at 0 m altitude - 125 m (410 feet), at 6000 m (19 685 feet) altitude - 230 m (754 feet).
 

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