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Aviation History
1941
1941 - 1414.PDF
FLIGHT JUNE 2bTH, 1941. Twenty-fifth of the Series FRIEND or FOE? New American and German Fighters : The Mustang and the Me 109F North American Mustang : Low-wing tapers on both edges,curved tips ; dihedral from roots. Long, slim nose, large spinner. Cockpit cover faired smoothly back to tail. Almostrectangular cantilever tailplane, straight taper to both edges of fin and rudder. Wheels retract inwards. BY virtue of its in-line Allison engine, which permitsslim, well-streamlined nose, the North AmericanMustang conforms much more closely to British ideas in the matter of general appearance than do some of itsequally valuable fellow-countrymen whose radial " motors " involve a blunt entry and tubby fuselage. In fact, butfor the bulge of the radiator air-scoop aft of the trailing- edge, the clean lines of the Mustang fuselage are remini-scent of our own graceful Spitfire. The shape of its wings and tail surfaces, however, will prevent any possible con-fusion. The former have a straight taper on both edges, the tips being saved from squareness by a curve of moderateradius, and the tailplane is very nearly rectangular. Actu- ally it has a slight taper on its leading-edge and an equallyslight radius on the tips, and is set a little forward in rela- tion to the fin and rudder. The latter are fairly large andalso have a straight taper (more pronounced on the lead- ing-edge) and a fairly broad, curved apex. The cockpitcover is low and is faired off in a clean, unbroken line right back to the tail, the windscreen being sharply raked.The retractable undercar- riage folds inwards, bring-ing the wheels into recesses in the centre-section. The new •MesserschmittMe iogF is evoking more in- terest than any other enemymachine at the present moment, and it is now pos-sible to describe it in some detail (so far as appearanceis concerned) since it has not only been seen in action overGreat Britain but has also been seen through the gun-sights of one or two Spit- fires, with satisfactory re-sults—to the R.A.F. Its chief outward differencesfrom the ordinary Me 109E lie in the wings and tailBounded tips have been added to the former, there-by increasing their span and also improving theirappearance. The new tail- MUSTANG Messerschmitt Me 109F. Low-wing tapers on both edges torounded tips ; dihedral from roots. Exhaust below centre- line, radiator below nose. Low, streamlined cockpit cover.Cantilever tailplane moderately tapered with rounded tips ; rather small fin and rudder. Tail wheel also retracts. plane, which tapers on both edges to rounded tips, is now of the cantilever type (that of the 109E was strut-braced, it will be remembered) and has been brought down from its raised position on the fin to line up with the upper edge of the fuselage ; it has also been brought forward a little. The fuselage of the 109F has also been cleaned up to some extent, though the nose, with its rediator below, re- mains practically the same so far as looks are concerned. The cockpit cover, however, has been lowered and its streamlining improved, while drag has further been de- creased by making the tailwheel also retractable. It does not entirely disappear from view, about half its periphery being still visible when in the retracted position. The shape of the fin and rudder would appear to be the same as that of the 109E. Another slight modification, though not one of much importance from the spotting aspect, is the removal of the wireless mast which sprouted from the top of the fuselage on the 109E just behind the cock- pit. The aerial on the new Me runs from the tip of the tailplane to the fuselage. The most important dif- ference between the old 109E and the new 109F, of course, doesn't concern the spotter at all—unless he is in a position to appreciate the improvement in sheer performance ! For the much- boosted, super-hotted Mer cedes-Benz engine is re- ported to give it a top speed of 380 m.p.h. at 21,000ft. and a service ceiling of 38,000ft. But even so, it can't always escape from the R.A.F., and, when it fails to do so, its reduced armament of one shell-gun and two machine-guns—all within the nose—finds it at a disadvantage. Next Week:—Curtiss Cleveland and Fairey Alba- Me 109F
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