Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun (Typhoon)

Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (Bavarian Aircraft Works) developed the Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun. It was a German built designed as a two-seat sports/recreation aircraft for competition in the 4th Challenge de Tourisme Internationale (1934). It was an all metal construction. Later, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter plane used many of the same design features.

The Taifun was originally known as the M 37. It’s prototype flew first in spring 1934 which received its power from a 250 hp Hirth HM 8U inverted-V piston engine, which drove a three-bladed propeller. Although it did not win the competition it was primarily designed to win since the competition demanded lighter aircraft. The M 37’s swift performance made it a popular choice for record flights. Several Bf 108s had set new endurance records soon after the first production aircraft began to roll off the assembly line in Augsburg. German pilot Elly Beinhorn flew a Bf 108A, named “Taifun” (typhoon) from Berlin to Constantinople in one day that was seriously an accomplishment. It led Messerschmitt to apply the name “Taifun” to all subsequent production models of the Bf 108.

Its variants included M-37/Bf 108A which was the initial version designed in 1934 for use in Challenge 1934. Bf 108B was an improved version designed in 1935. It had a four-seat cabin aircraft powered by a 201-kW (270-hp) Argus As 10c engine. Bf 108C proposed a high-speed version, powered by a 298 kW (400 hp) Hirth HM 512 engine but was never built. Me 208 was another improved version with a retractable tricycle landing gear. Two prototypes were built by SNCAN in France during the war Nord 1001 and Nord 1002. Some of the countries which operated this aircraft are Bulgaria, China, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Japan, Manchukuo, Poland, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, United States andYugoslavia.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: Four Seat Communications & Liaison
Design: Willy Messerschmitt
Engine(s): 240 hp (179 kW) Argus As 10C engine
Max Speed: 315 km/h (196 mph) at 1000 m (3,300 ft)
Max Range: 1,000 km (620 mi)
Ceiling: 20,341ft (6,200m; 3.9miles)
Length: 8.3 m (27 ft 2 in)
Height: 2.3 m (7 ft 6 in)
Width: 34.45ft (10.50m)
Empty Weight: 860 kg (1,887 lb)
MTO Weight: 3,086lbs (1,400kg)
Wingspan: 10.5 m (34 ft 5 in)
Armaments: None.