Bf109 test data

[*Buzzsaw*]

Originally Posted by Kurfürst

V15 or V15a? In any case, the V15a tests note a "DB 601A", but they give the rating as 1,35ata (which is the Aa rating). Power ratings also match that of the Aa.

These figures appear to come directly from the Bf 109E operating manual and were clearly for 601Aa. See: http://109lair.hobbyvista.com/techre...als/bf109e.pdf


The answer to both questions is that V15a fully confirmed to serial production aircraft, as the test report clearly notes.

The problem was there were no 109E1's or 109E-3's in production or service at the time V15 was constructed. V15 was clearly a prototype.

According to Uwe Feist in "The Fighting Me 109", published London: Arms and Armour Press, 1993, there were two prototypes built to test the 109 with the DB601: V14, which had two MG's in the nose, and two F/F 20mm in the wings and which was equipped with a DB-601Ao engine, and V15, which had only had the two nose MG's, (no weapons mounted in the wings at all) and which it appears, was equipped with the DB-601Aa engine.

According to Wiki, V14 was determined to be the more successful of the two prototypes, and there was an initial pre-production order of 20, designated E-0. Later, early production 109E's were sent to Spain to be tested with the Condor Legion. Production later commenced with the E-1 variant, with two MG's in the wings.

This information clearly points out the difference between V15 and the later production aircraft. This aircraft did not have the drag or weight of a pair of MG F/F's and their ammunition to contend with. And who knows what else was not present?

The question is, where is the test of V14?