Messerschmitt Me 509

Me 509
Model picture Me 509
Role	Fighter aircraft
Manufacturer	Messerschmitt
Status	Unrealised project

The Messerschmitt Me 509 was a project underway in Germany during World War II based on the Me 309 but with the engine located behind the cockpit like the US Bell P-39 Airacobra. The engine was a Daimler-Benz DB 605B driving a three-blade propeller and armament was to consist of two 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131 machine guns and two 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons. The tricycle landing gear from the Me 309 was retained, which worked better on the 509 due to the lower weight on the nosewheel - the Me 309's front landing gear had collapsed during trials. Visibility was also better with the smaller nose. The project was cancelled along with the Me 309, but the Japanese made a similar aircraft, the Yokosuka R2Y Keiun, which suffered from engine overheating.

Specifications (as designed)

Data from^{[citation needed]}

General characteristics

• Crew: 1, pilot
• Length: 9.94 m (32 ft 7 in)
• Wingspan: 11.27 m (37 ft)
• Height: 3.98 m (13 ft 1 in)
• Powerplant: 1 × Daimler-Benz DB 605B, 1,085 kW (1,455 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 760 km/h (472 mph)

Armament

• Guns: 2 × 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131 machine guns
• 2 × 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons

References

• Me 509 at Luft '46
• Me 509 on www.me109.info (German)
• Robert Schneider: Description Me 509, RS Models, Praha, Czech Republic

See also

Related development

Bf 109 - Me 209 - Me 209-II - Me 309 - Me 409 - Me 609

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

P-39 Airacobra P-63 Kingcobra Yokosuka R2Y

Related lists

[1]