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Germany's Messerschmitt Bf. 109 G, "Gustav" Fighter^1,2,3

Messerschmitt Bf 109 G fighter:

Messerschmitt Bf 109 G1 fighter:

Messerschmitt Bf 109 G2 fighter:

Messerschmitt Bf 109 G6 fighter:

Messerschmitt Bf 109 G6 R6 fighter:

Design

It was designed around the Daimler-Benz DB 605A engine and Bf 109 F airframe.² Pressurization in the cockpit was provided for.²

There were many kits that could be installed in the factory or the field that allowed for different configurations to make a fighter-bomber, reconnaissance, and tropical versions.²

The first prototype, the Bf 109 G-0 was first completed in October 1941.² The Bf 109 G-1 and the Bf 109 G-2 were first used in early summer of 1942.²

Production

The Bf 109 G was produced in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Romania.²

Variants

• Bf 109 G-1 was pressurised.²
• Bf 109 G-1/Trop was a tropical version.²
• Bf 109 G-2 was unpressurised.²
• Bf 109 G-3 different radio gear.²
• Bf 109 G-4 different radio gear.²
• Bf 109 G-5 had a MW50 boosted Daimler-Benz 605D.²
• Bf 109 G-5/U2 had a wooden tailplane.²
• Bf 109 G-6 had 2 under wing 20 mm² Was also the standardized version to fit the Rüstsätze (field conversion) and Umrüst-Bausätze (factory) optional equipment packages.²
• Bf 109 G-6/U2 had a wooden tailplane.²
• Bf 109 G-6/N was a night fighter.²
• Bf 109 G-7 had a wooden tail and semi-retractable tailwheel.²
• Bf 109 G-8 was used for armed reconnaissance.²
• Bf 109 G-10 had low octane DB 605D or high octane DB 605DB with MW 50 and "Galland" hood for better visability.²
• Bf 109 G-12 was an unarmed two seat trainer.²
• Bf 109 G-14 standardized engines.²
• Bf 109 G-16 had a DB 605D engine and more armor protection.²

Usage

It was used by Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, and Switzerland in World War II.²

	Bf 109 G1,2	Bf 109 G-22	Bf 109 G-62,3	Bf 109 G-8 to G-162	Bf 109 G-102	Bf 109 G-142
Type	Fighter1, Fighter-Bomber2		Fighter3	Fighter-bomber2
Crew	11,2		13	12
Engine (Type)	Daimler-Benz DB 605A-11 up to DB 605D1	Daimler-Benz DB 605A2	Daimler-Benz DB 605A piston3 Daimler-Benz Db 605AM2	Daimler-Benz DB 605A, DB 605AM, DB 604AS, DB 605ASB, or DB 605D2 With MW50 methanol-water or GM1 nitrous-oxide boost.2
Cylinders	Inverted V-121	Inverted V-122	Inline3	Inverted V-122
Cooling	Liquid1
Net HP	605A-1: 1,4751 605D: 1,800 with MW50 boost1	1,4752	1,4753, 1,8002	1,800-2,0002
Propeller	3 blade2			3 blade2
Dimensions
Span	32' 6.5"1,2 9.92 m1,2		32' 6.5"3 9.92 m3	36' 6.5"2 9.92 m2
Length	29' 7.5"2, 29' 8"1 9.03 m2, 9.04 m1		29' 7"3 9.02 m3	29' 7.5"2 9.03 m2
Height	8' 2.5"2, 8' 6"1 2.5 m2, 2.59 m1		11' 2"3 3.4 m3	8' 2.5"2 2.5 m2
Wing area			172.8 ft2 3 16.05 m2 3
Weight
Empty	5,880 - 6,180 lb1 2,667 - 2,800 kg1	5,687 lb2 2,580 kg2	5,893 lb2, 5,952 lb3 2,673 kg2, 2,700 kg3
Loaded	7,496 lb1 3,400 kg1	6,834 lb2 3,100 kg2	6,940 lb2, 6,944 lb3 3,148 kg2, 3,150 kg3		7,700 lb2 3,493 kg2
Max overload			7,496 lb2 3,400 kg2
Performance
Speed	353 - 428 mph1 569 - 690 kph1
Speed @ sea level			340 mph2 547 kph2		342 mph2 550 kph2
Speed @ 22,640' / 6,900 m			386 mph2 621 kph2
Speed @ 22,965' / 7,000 m			387 mph3 623 kph3
Speed @ 24,280' / 7,400 m					426 mph2 685 kph2
Climb	2,700 - 4,000'/min1		3,346'/min2 1,020 m/min2
Climb to 19,685' / 6,000 m			6 minutes3
Service ceiling	~38,000'1 ~11,600m1		37,890'2, 38,550'3 11,500 m2, 11,7503		41,175'2 12,550 m2
Range	365-460 miles1		350 miles2, 450 miles3 563 km2, 725 km3		350 miles2 563 km2
Range with drop tanks			620 miles2 998 km2
Armament
Above engine		2: 7.9 mm MG2	2: 13 mm2 2: 7.92 mm MG 173		2: 13 mm2	2: 13 mm2
Wings - under			2: 20 mm2 2: 20 mm MG 151/203
Propeller hub		20 mm2	1: 20 mm2 1: 30 mm MK 1083		20 mm or 30 mm2	20 mm2
Production	23,5002 1944: 14,2122

Sources:

1. The Illustrated Directory of Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Bill Gunston, 1998
2. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
3. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995

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