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Bf 108 *Taifun*
Bf 108 Taifun
	D-EBFW, a 1937-built Bf 108B-1 painted to represent a pre-war company demonstrator D-IBFW
General information
Type	Sport and touring aircraft
Manufacturer	Bayerische Flugzeugwerke
Designer	Willy Messerschmitt
Primary users	Luftwaffe Armée de l'Air; Manchukuo National Airways
Number built	885
History
Introduction date	1935
First flight	1934
Retired	1945
Variants	Nord 1000 Pingouin; Nord Noralpha

The Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun (English: "Typhoon") is a single-engine sport and touring aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Bayerische Flugzeugwerke. It featured all-metal construction.

Design and development

Originally designated the M 37, the aircraft was designed as a four-seat sports/recreation aircraft for competition in the 4th Challenge International de Tourisme (1934).^[2]^[3] The M 37 prototype flew first during spring 1934, powered by a 250 PS (247 hp, 184 kW) Hirth HM 8U 8.0 litre displacement, air-cooled inverted-V8 engine, which drove a three-blade propeller.

Although it was outperformed by several other aircraft in the competition, the M 37's overall performance marked it as a popular choice for record flights. Particular among these traits was its low fuel consumption rate, good handling, and superb takeoff and landing characteristics.

The Bf 108A first flew in 1934, followed by the Bf 108B in 1935. The Bf 108B used the substantially larger, 12.67 litre displacement Argus As 10 air-cooled inverted V8 engine. The nickname Taifun (German for "typhoon") was given to her own aircraft by Elly Beinhorn, a well-known German pilot, and was generally adopted.^[4]

Operational history

Soon after the first production aircraft began to roll off the assembly line in Augsburg, several Bf 108s had set endurance records.

The Bf 108 was adopted into Luftwaffe service during the Second World War. The type was primarily used as a personnel transport and liaison aircraft. The aircraft involved in the Mechelen Incident was a Bf 108. Furthermore, a Bf 108 served with the small long-range bombing group Sonderkommando Blaich based in Africa.^{[citation needed]}

Production of the Bf 108 was transferred to occupied France during the Second World War; production continued after the conflict as the Nord 1000 Pingouin.

Variants

Bf 108A: Initial version designed in 1934 for use in Challenge 1934. Six were built with the Hirth HM 8U, one other initially had a 220 PS (217 hp, 162 kW) Argus As 17B inline engine and later a 160 PS (158 hp, 118 kW) Siemens-Halske Sh 14 radial.^[4]
Bf 108B: Revised version, built from late 1935. The prototype had a Siemens-Halske Sh 14A radial, but production machines used the 240 PS (237 hp, 177 kW) Argus As 10C or the 270 PS (266 hp, 199 kW) Argus As 10E. A quadrant-shaped rather than rectangular rear window, tailwheel replacing skid, revision of shape of empennage and removal of tailplane upper bracing.^[4]
Bf 108C: Proposed high-speed version, powered by a 400 PS (395 hp, 294 kW) Hirth HM 512 engine. Probably not built.^[4]
Me 208: Improved and enlarged version with a retractable tricycle landing gear. Two prototypes were built by SNCAN (Nord) in France during the war. After 1945 Nord continued its production as the Nord Noralpha.
Nord 1000 Pingouin: Bf 108 built during and after the war by SNCAN in France; followed by the Nord 1001, that had only minor variations and the Nord 1002, which used a Renault engine.
Nord 1100 Noralpha: Bf 108 derivative built after the war by SNCAN in France with tricycle landing gear and a Renault engine.

Operators

Brazil

Varig

Bulgaria

Bulgarian Air Force Six aircraft purchased, used mainly for training.

China

Chinese Nationalist Air Force

Independent State of Croatia

Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia

Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovak Air Force operated this type postwar under designation K-70.

France

Armée de l'Air operated captured Bf 108s and postwar-built Nord 1000 aircraft.

Nazi Germany

Luftwaffe

Hungary

Royal Hungarian Air Force operated seven Bf 108s from 1937 to 1945

Italy

Regia Aeronautica

Japan

Imperial Japanese Army Air Service

Manchukuo

Manchukuo National Airways

Norway

Royal Norwegian Air Force (Postwar)

Poland

Polish Air Force operated a few captured Bf 108s postwar.

Romania

Royal Romanian Air Force

Spain

Spanish Air Force

Switzerland

Swiss Air Force

Soviet Union

Soviet Air Force operated several captured Bf 108s.

United Kingdom

Royal Air Force
RAF Aldon
operated four Bf 108s, under the designation "Messerschmitt Aldon", which were impressed from private owners on the outbreak of the war. Reportedly they were the fastest light communications aircraft the RAF had, but they were also sometimes mistaken for Bf 109s although there is no record of any fatal encounters. Postwar, 15 more captured Bf 108s flew in RAF colours until the mid 1950s.^[4]

United States

United States Army Air Corps - in early 1939, a single Bf 108B was purchased for $14,378 and designated XC-44. It was used only by the US air attaché in Berlin. In November 1941, the aircraft was assessed as unserviceable. The airframe was seized by the Nazi government, following the commencement of hostilities, in December.

Kingdom of Yugoslavia

Yugoslav Royal Air Force

Specifications (Bf 108B)

Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1938,^[5] Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945 Vol.3 – Flugzeugtypen Henschel-Messerschmitt^[6]

General characteristics

Crew: one or two
Capacity: two or three passengers
Length: 8.29 m (27 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 10.5 m (34 ft 5 in)
Height: 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Wing area: 16.4 m² (177 sq ft)
Airfoil: root: NACA 2416; tip: NACA 2413^[7]
Empty weight: 806 kg (1,777 lb)
Gross weight: 1,350 kg (2,976 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Argus As 10C V-8 inverted air-cooled piston engine, 174 kW (233 hp)
Propellers: 2-bladed variable-pitch propeller

Performance

Maximum speed: 305 km/h (190 mph, 165 kn)
Cruise speed: 260 km/h (160 mph, 140 kn)
Landing speed: 85 km/h (53 mph; 46 kn)
Range: 1,000 km (620 mi, 540 nmi) at 250 km/h (160 mph; 130 kn)
Service ceiling: 6,200 m (20,300 ft) (with three passengers and 50 kg (110 lb) baggage)
Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in three minutes and 12 seconds

2,000 m (6,600 ft) in seven minutes and 30 seconds

3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 14 minutes

4,000 m (13,000 ft) in 22 minutes

5,000 m (16,000 ft) in 39 minutes

Wing loading: 82.3 kg/m² (16.9 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass: 0.133 kW/kg (0.081 hp/lb)

References

Citations

^ Smith 1971, p. 142.
^ Schulz, R. and W. Pleines. "Technical Memorandums No. 760 - Technical Aspects of the 1934 International Touring Competition (Rundflug)." National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, December 1934. Retrieved: 13 March 2010.
^ Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Smith 1971, pp. 36–37.
^ Grey, C.G.; Bridgman, Leonard, eds. (1938). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1938. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 136c.
^ Nowarra 1993, pp. 187–189, 266–267.
^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

Bibliography

Grey, C.G. (1972). Messerschmitt Bf 108. Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1938. London, UK: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-5734-4.
Nowarra, Heinz J. (1993). Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945 Vol.3 – Flugzeugtypen Henschel-Messerschmitt (in German). Koblenz, Germany: Bernard & Graefe Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7637-5467-0.
Smith, J. Richard (1971). Messerschmitt: An Aircraft Album. London, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0-7110-0224-1.