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Several other Me 109Z designs were planned, developed around the 109G fuselages. The Me 109Z was to use around 90% of pre-existing 109 parts, with only the new main wing and tailplane, modified landing gear mountings, slightly larger wheels, extra fuel tanks in place of the starboard cockpit and a few other components needed to complete the aircraft.
TANSTAAFL.Me 109 Zwilling
This experimental aircraft was essentially two Bf 109F airframes joined together by means of a new wing centre section and new tailplane, both of constant chord. In the preproduction model, the...www.nevingtonwarmuseum.com
Historically this was a real aircraft, but the project was not started until 1942. What if it had been started pre-war (handwave the reason) and due to performance and cost (economies of scale due to commonality with the regular Me109) it supplanted the Bf110? It would fulfill all the same roles of the Bf110, but with better performance and lower cost due to sharing 90% of Me109 parts. The 1943 version was projected to have a top speed of 462mph and a cruise of 354 with the DB601-E engine (basically a less crappy DB605) or DB605, which was about 300hp more than the standard DB601 engine of 1940. Range was estimated to be just below 2000km. That coupled with the Me109E being a less refined version of the 109F-4 variant the historical 109Z was based on, a top speed of ~380-390mph and 1200km for a 1939/40 version seems reasonable.
For comparison:
Spitfire Mk I versus Me 109 E
Spitfire Mk I versus Me 109 E performance comparison, wartime flight trials and data analysis. Spitfire flight tests.www.spitfireperformance.com
The Spitfire with 100octane fuel had a top speed around 360mph in 1940. The BF110 historically in 1940 had about 336mph at top speed due to the DB601N engine not working out for a variety of reasons.
So what happens if the Luftwaffe has considerably more fighter aircraft with higher performance than any single engine fighter in the world at the time, plus firepower at least equivalent to the Bf110? Especially if it had the range to act as a proper escort and fighter-bomber.
Wouldn't that give up some performance edge against a same-time Spitfire?Wouldn't a single-engine fighter based on the Bf 109 but with added internal and external fuel suffice?
If the Mustang can carry more than twice the fuel of a Spitfire and remain competitive, so can a Bf 109.Wouldn't that give up some performance edge against a same-time Spitfire?
define remain competitive.If the Mustang can carry more than twice the fuel of a Spitfire and remain competitive, so can a Bf 109.
I believe the Bf 109Z was a post-1943 concept, so we're about right for the long-range Merlin-powered Mustang.define remain competitive.
British loved the Mustang I for it's low level speed and range, however the twice the fuel of the Spitfire didn't occur until late 1943.
I'm not suggesting we cram in fuel in excess of the Bf 109's internal volume. Instead I suggest a new design, based on the Bf 109 but with greater internal volume.Wouldn't a single-engine fighter based on the Bf 109 but with added internal and external fuel suffice?
British loved the Mustang I for it's low level speed and range, however the twice the fuel of the Spitfire didn't occur until late 1943.
Early Mustangs, Allison and early Merlins carried about 78% more internal fuel (150 Imp gal) .
109 was planed around a 700hp engine, and 270 liters of fuel. They crammed bigger engines into it. and more fuel. But they ran out of room in 1939/40.
There is only so much "stuff" you can fit in 170sq ft wing. Maybe the Germans could have stuffed some fuel tanks in the wing. But that means redesigning the wing, adding cost (man hours) and Mustang had a lot more volume in the wing.
Mustang's wing was thicker, and the internals were compartmentalized in a more convenient way.Spitfire actually had a large wing than the Mustang.
What was the heaviest single-engine aircraft to use the Merlin? The P-51D had a max takeoff weight of 12,100 lbs., which is about a ton heavier than either the Fairey Battle or Fulmar, albeit with a much earlier Merlin.Spitfire actually had a large wing than the Mustang.