Time Period: World War II
Country of Origin: Germany
Type: Fighter Aircraft, Bomber Aircraft
Manufacturer: Messerschmitt AG
Messerschmitt Bf 110 Aircraft Overview
The Messerschmitt Bf 110 was a twin-engine heavy fighter and fighter-bomber aircraft used by the German Luftwaffe during World War II. It was developed in the 1930s as a long-range escort fighter, but it was also used for a variety of other roles, including ground attack and night fighting.
The Bf 110 was designed and developed by Willy Messerschmitt and his team in the mid-1930s. It was a twin-engine, all-metal monoplane with a crew of two, and it was powered by two Daimler-Benz DB 601 engines. The aircraft was armed with four 7.92mm machine guns and two 20mm cannon, and it could also carry a variety of bombs and rockets.
The Bf 110 was initially used by the Luftwaffe as a long-range escort fighter, and it saw action in the early years of World War II, including the Battle of Britain. However, it soon became apparent that the Bf 110 was not as effective as a single-engine fighter, and it was vulnerable to enemy fighters due to its size and lack of maneuverability.
Despite these shortcomings, the Bf 110 was used for a variety of other roles during the war. It was used for ground attack missions, and it was also used as a night fighter, equipped with radar and specialized weapons to intercept Allied bombers.
Over the course of the war, the Bf 110 was continuously developed and improved. Later versions of the aircraft had more powerful engines, improved armament, and better aerodynamics. However, the Bf 110 was ultimately overshadowed by the more nimble and versatile fighters of the later stages of the war, such as the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 and the Messerschmitt Bf 109.
Despite its limitations, the Messerschmitt Bf 110 was an important aircraft in the history of aviation, and it played a significant role in the early years of World War II.
Messerschmitt Bf 110 Specifications
- Crew: 2 or 3
- Length: 12.0714 m (39 ft 7.25 in)
- Wingspan: 16.2497 m (53 ft 3.75 in)
- Height: 4.128 m (13 ft 6.5 in)
- Wing area: 38.4000 m2 (413.334 sq ft)
- Airfoil: root: NACA 2R1 (18.5%); tip: NACA 2R1 (11%)
- Empty weight: 4,425 kg (9,755 lb) * Empty equipped weight: 4,885 kg (10,769 lb)
- Gross weight: 6,028 kg (13,289 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 6,749 kg (14,880 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 1,272 L (336 US gal; 280 imp gal) in 4 centre-section tanks
- Powerplant: 2 × Daimler-Benz DB 601A-1 V-12 inverted liquid-cooled piston engines, 780 kW (1,050 hp) each for take-off. 820 kW (1,100 hp) at 3,700 m (12,140 ft)
- Propellers: 3-bladed VDM variable-pitch propellers
Messerschmitt Bf 110 Armament
- Guns: ** 2 × 20 mm (0.787 in) MG FF/M cannon (180 rpg—3 drums with 60 rpg, cannon were reloaded by rear gunner or radio operator during flight)
- 4 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 17 machine guns (1,000 rpg)
- 1 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 15 machine gun for defence.
Messerschmitt Bf 110 Performance
- Maximum speed: 475 km/h (295 mph, 256 kn) at sea level; – weight = 13,289 lb (6,028 kg). 525 km/h (326 mph; 283 kn) at 4,000 m (13,120 ft). 541 km/h (336 mph; 292 kn) at 6,000 m (19,685 ft).
- Cruise speed: 262 km/h (163 mph, 141 kn) maximum continuous at sea level. 489 km/h (304 mph; 264 kn) maximum continuous at 5,000 m (16,400 ft). 484 km/h (301 mph; 261 kn) maximum continuous at 7,000 m (22,970 ft). 349 km/h (217 mph; 188 kn) economical cruise speed at 4,200 m (13,780 ft)
- Landing speed: 150 km/h (93 mph; 81 kn)
- Range: 774 km (481 mi, 418 nmi) at sea level with normal internal fuel at maximum continuous cruise speed. 850 km (530 mi; 460 nmi) at 5,000 m (16,400 ft) at maximum continuous cruise speed
- Range at economical cruise speed: 909 km (565 mi; 491 nmi) at 7,000 m (22,970 ft) at economical cruise speed. 1,094 km (680 mi; 591 nmi) at 4,200 m (13,780 ft) at economical cruise speed
- Service ceiling: 10,000 m (32,810 ft)
- Rate of climb: 11 m/s (2,200 ft/min)
- Time to altitude: 6,000 m (19,685 ft) in 10 minutes 12 seconds
- Wing loading: 173 kg/m2 (35 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass: 0.241 kW/kg (0.147 hp/lb)
Messerschmitt Bf 110 Image Gallery
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