In the late 1930s, a fierce rivalry was underway between Italian, German, and British designers to create an aircraft that would set the absolute maximum speed record. As a result of this rivalry, and also internal competition with the Heinkel works, in 1937 the Messerschmitt factory in Augsburg began design work on a record-breaking aircraft designated as project 1059. The Reich Air Ministry (RLM) gave it the designation Me 209, and the designers were also required to develop a fighter version of this aircraft.
The first prototype of the Me 209 V1, equipped with a 12-cylinder inline Daimler-Benz DB-601 engine, was completed in June 1938. In order to achieve the highest possible maximum speed, this aircraft was almost completely stripped of equipment.
One of the most interesting engineering solutions used in this aircraft was the cooling system. Water, after flowing around and cooling the engine, was directed into special channels in the wings, where it partially evaporated through small openings, then condensed on the inner side of the airframe skin and, once cooled, was directed back to cool the engine. This system, involving partial loss of engine cooling water, required a fairly large reserve (200 dm3), which limited flight time to only 30 minutes.
The Me 209 V1 prototype made its maiden flight on 1 August 1938, piloted by Dr. Eng. Herman Wurster at Messerschmitt’s factory airfield in Augsburg. Unfortunately, a rapid rise in engine temperature forced the pilot to land quickly. Further tests of the aircraft revealed a number of other defects. The most serious included: uneven engine operation and overheating, exhaust fumes penetrating the cockpit, inadequate ground visibility from the cockpit, a tendency to enter sudden dives during take-off and landing, and unsatisfactory control response. Attempts were made, mostly unsuccessfully, to eliminate these defects on the second prototype Me 209 V2, which crashed during a test flight on 4 April 1930.
Meanwhile, on 30 March 1939, Hans Dieterle set a speed record of 746 km/h in the competing Heinkel He 100 V8. On 26 April 1930, Fritz Wendel, piloting the Me 209 V1 equipped with a DB 601 ARJ engine with a momentary power of 2300 hp, achieved 755 km/h. This aircraft is now in the collection of the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow. For propaganda purposes, the Reich Propaganda Ministry referred to this aircraft in all publications as the Me 109R, which was meant to suggest that it was a modification of a serial fighter, rather than an entirely different design.
Serial production of the fighter versions of the Me 209 was never undertaken. Fritz Wendel’s record stood for piston-engine aircraft until 1969, when Daryl G. Greenamyer in a Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat “Conquest I” achieved a speed of 776 km/h.
| Wingspan | 11 7.8 m |
| Length | 7.24 m |
| Takeoff weight | – |
| Maximum speed | 755 km/h |
| Ceiling | – |
| Range | – |
| Armament | – |
| Engine | Daimler-Benz DB 601ARJ in inverted “V” configuration, liquid-cooled, 1324 kW (1775 hp) |
