Messerschmitt Me 109TL
Encyclopedia
The Messerschmitt 109TL Turbo-Lader Strahltriebwerk ("turbocharger
jet engine") was an alternative design proposed as a backup for the Me 262
.
conference; at the time only three prototype
s of the Me 262 had been completed. The Me 109TL would be a backup if the Me 262 did not come to production or as a second fighter to operate alongside the Me 262.
In order to reduce development time, various components from previous aircraft were to be used. The fuselage
was to come from the Bf 109H/BV 155B high-altitude fighter (with a new nose and tail section), the wing was from the Me 409 project and the tricycle undercarriage
came from the Me 309
. The powerplant would be the same Junkers Jumo 004
B-1 turbojet (900 kgf thrust) or BMW 003A (800 kgf).
The basic armament was to be two 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon
s (with 120 rpg) and two MK 103 cannon
s mounted in the nose. An additional proposal was two 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannon
s to be installed in the wing root
s. The pilot cockpit
used in the prototypes was the same as utilized in the Bf 109E/G types.
The performance was estimated to be possibly better than the Me 262 due to the Me 109TL's narrower fuselage, a product of the design for a high-speed high-altitude fighter. The Me 109TL received intensive research. By March 1943, it was decided that many other modifications to components would be needed and the project was abandoned in order to concentrate on the Me 262 project.
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
jet engine") was an alternative design proposed as a backup for the Me 262
Messerschmitt Me 262
The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe was the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. Design work started before World War II began, but engine problems prevented the aircraft from attaining operational status with the Luftwaffe until mid-1944...
.
Development
It was first proposed on 22 January 1943 at an RLMReich Air Ministry
thumb|300px|The Ministry of Aviation, December 1938The Ministry of Aviation was a government department during the period of Nazi Germany...
conference; at the time only three prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
s of the Me 262 had been completed. The Me 109TL would be a backup if the Me 262 did not come to production or as a second fighter to operate alongside the Me 262.
In order to reduce development time, various components from previous aircraft were to be used. The fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
was to come from the Bf 109H/BV 155B high-altitude fighter (with a new nose and tail section), the wing was from the Me 409 project and the tricycle undercarriage
Tricycle gear
Tricycle gear describes an aircraft undercarriage, or landing gear, arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has one wheel in the front, called the nose wheel, and two or more main wheels slightly aft of the center of gravity...
came from the Me 309
Messerschmitt Me 309
|-References:*Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Fighters, vol. I. London: Hanover House, 1960.*Jackson, Robert. Infamous Aircraft: Dangerous Designs and their Vices. Barnsley, Yorkshire, UK: Pen and Sword Aviation, 2005. ISBN 1-84415-172-7.-External links:*...
. The powerplant would be the same Junkers Jumo 004
Junkers Jumo 004
The Jumo 004 was the world's first turbojet engine in production and operational use, and the first successful axial compressor jet engine ever built. Some 8,000 units were manufactured by Junkers in Germany during late World War II and powered the operational Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter,...
B-1 turbojet (900 kgf thrust) or BMW 003A (800 kgf).
The basic armament was to be two 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon
MG 151 cannon
The MG 151 was a 15 mm autocannon produced by Waffenfabrik Mauser starting in 1940. It was in 1941 developed into the 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon which was widely used on many types of German Luftwaffe fighters, fighter bombers, night fighters, ground attack and even bombers as part of or as...
s (with 120 rpg) and two MK 103 cannon
MK 103 cannon
The Rheinmetall-Borsig MK 103 was a German 30 mm caliber autocannon that was mounted in German combat aircraft during World War II. Intended to be a dual purpose weapon for anti-tank and air-to-air fighting, it was a development of the heavy MK 101. Compared to the MK 101, it was lighter,...
s mounted in the nose. An additional proposal was two 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannon
MK 108 cannon
The MK 108 was a 30 mm caliber autocannon manufactured in Germany during World War II by Rheinmetall-Borsig for use in aircraft.-Development:...
s to be installed in the wing root
Wing root
The wing root is the part of the wing on a fixed-wing aircraft that is closest to the fuselage. On a simple monoplane configuration, this is usually easy to identify...
s. The pilot cockpit
Cockpit
A cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. Most modern cockpits are enclosed, except on some small aircraft, and cockpits on large airliners are also physically separated from the cabin...
used in the prototypes was the same as utilized in the Bf 109E/G types.
The performance was estimated to be possibly better than the Me 262 due to the Me 109TL's narrower fuselage, a product of the design for a high-speed high-altitude fighter. The Me 109TL received intensive research. By March 1943, it was decided that many other modifications to components would be needed and the project was abandoned in order to concentrate on the Me 262 project.