The Best Bf - 109 Variant ?

[lesofprimus]

The 109 has been around operationally since June 1937 in the Spanish Civil War... But the better variations happened towards the latter part of the war, and even at the end...



109F series flew first in Nov 1940...
Best variant in this series is the 109F-4/Z, with the GM-1 Nitrous Oxide Boost System...
***But the 109F-4/R6 variant, which Galland himself requested, added 2X additional 20-mm Mk 151 cannon in underwing gondolas... (For bomber attacks, but excess drag kinda sucked dogfightin...)

The 109G series in March 1942... The one produced the most...
Best here is the 109G-14/U6. 1X 30-mm MK 103 cannon and 2X 13-mm MG 131 machine guns, with the MW 50 Water-Methanol Supercharger Boost System...

109K series flew in Oct 1944...
Best variant here is the 109K-4, with the GM-1, 1X 30-mm MK109 cannon and 2X 15-mm MG 151 cannon and the DB 605 ASCM engine (2,000 hp t/o; 1,899 hp @ 16,450 ft) flyin at 451 mph @ 19,736 ft (6,000 m)...

I believe the K series is regarded as the best... Any other input???

[Lightning Guy]

The K had the performance but the increase and weight (and even the increase in power) was causing some serious deteriation in it's handling. From what I understand, most pilots considered the F to be the best all-around version.

[lesofprimus]

I havent heard about the deterioration in handling issue... The K series was the answer to the problems that the H series had with tail vibrations... The F series top speed was 389 mph @ 22,040 ft... The G was 406 mph @ 28,540 ft... Nice little difference...

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i know it's not the best, but my favourite would be the E series, i prefer the square wing.......................

[GermansRGeniuses]

Actually, the K-4 hit 450mp/h at the most, I don't know where those Gustav figures come from...


I likes the G-6 A/S with the Mk-108 tucked in.

Some of the best late-model handling.

For Mid-War, I'd have an F-4 or G-2...


Although it was experimental, the K-6 was said to be the fastest...

[lesofprimus]

Actually the 2 books I referenced state that the K-4 max speed is 451 mph @ 19,736 feet, and 452 mph @ 19,685 feet... (Both say 727 km/h)

The fastest variant was probably the 109K-14, which attained speeds of over 450 mph @ 35,000 feet...

I made a mistake on the Gustav... I edited last post and fixed error.... Ty...

[Lightning Guy]

The handling issue comes from, among other things, the wing loading. The 109 had a fairly high wing-loading grew dramatically as the weight of the 109 increased rapidly with little adjustment to the wing area. Also, the increase in power meant at increase in torque which can add to handling difficulties.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

and caused difficulties on take off.................

[lesofprimus]

But that wing loading situation would be somewhat less of a worry at high altitudes...

I personally like the 109G version as well... If I remember correctly, there were some problems with the MW-50 water-methanol boost system...

109G-6 A/S huh??? U like that DB 605A-1 engine... (bigger supercharger)

The 109G-14 already came with that engine, standardized the "Galland " type canopy, and the /U6 MK 103 30-mm conversion made up the firepower difference......

[NightHawk]

is it true thet you can know the type of bf by the coloer of its nose ?

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i don't think so becuase if you think about it they could paint it any colour they want.................

[GermansRGeniuses]

The nose is an identity marking or Theatre Indicator as are the rear fuselage stripes on the Fw-190.


Example:Yellow and Red vertical stripes mean a late-war Reichs Defense aircraft.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

and white tail bands meant the med. theatre.................

[cheddar cheese]

I likes the 109 G's

[the lancaster kicks ass]

they're ugly, you want a E...................