Leading Edge Slats on the Me-109

[*Buzzsaw*]

Originally Posted by TomcatViP

A-The 109 undercarriage was not build that way to facilitate it's shipping via train (at least not only - but this is the first time I think that I have to read it). It was made to make assembly easier with the wing being plugged onto the fuselage. Remind that Bf (and not Mtt at the time ) did not have the production facilities that would be needed for such a big order by the RLM. Many parts were subcontracted (heinkel etc...) and had to be moved from one facility to another. Having the fuselage "crated" by its own undercarriage as soon as possible facilitate the production and made the wing stronger for a given weight (and Mr Messer was addicted to weight reduction as any good eng shld be!).

I have seen several sources which say the requirement for train transport was listed by RLM in the competition. Yes, Bayerische Flugzeugwerke was compelled to outsource many of its manufacture, but that did not require a design which had the undercarriage mounted as it was.

there was a revolution in 1935. And this flow slowly ard the globe from Germany then USA and all obver the globe after 1945.

Suggesting an aero revolution occurred only in Germany, and spread from there is not accurate. In fact, modern designs were being created in many other countries at the same time as the 109, some of which could be called further advanced, some less.

And further, many of the design elements of the 109 were taken from many other aircraft, i;ncluding those from outside Germany. To suggest these elements originated only in Germany again is inaccurate.

Aircraft design in the early '30's, as it is today, was a process of osmosis, with ideas and innovations rapidly circulating and moving from one location to another.