Bf109 test data

[Kurfürst]

Originally Posted by *Buzzsaw*

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.

Yes.

Originally Posted by *Buzzsaw*

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.

We are not discussing V14 (WNr 1029, first flew April 1937) V15 (WNr. 1773, first flew december 1937) but V15a (WNr. 1774). V15a had four MG 17s, as the report notes:

"An Bf 109 V 15 a, der Mustermachine für die E-1-Serie, wurden die Geschwindigkeitsleistungen erflogen. ... 2 Flügel- und 2 Hauben-MG eingebaut."

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?

Again we are talking about V15a, not V15.

The question is, where is the test of V14?

Good question.