Following on from the Blenheim article I shared back in December, I recently had the opportunity to sit down with ARCo’s John Romain to discuss all things Messerschmitt Bf 109E.
The resulting article is linked below, and is illustrated by John Dibbs’ images of both the FHCAM E-3 in the US and E-4 ‘White 14′ (currently based at the BHHH). The feature offers an in-depth review of the Bf 109E’s notoriously difficult handling characteristics, in what I intended to be one of the most detailed pilot’s accounts of flying and operating the 109E published in recent years. It’s difficult to draw any new conclusions, but I wanted to contextualise the aircraft’s virtues and vices by drawing on RAF and Luftwaffe pilots’ combat experiences, and offer John Romain’s impressions of some of the disparaging traits that mire the aircraft to this day.
http://vintageaviationecho.com/bf109e/
I’m reluctant to self-promote on here, but given the article’s been well-received, the previous JR Blenheim piece went down well on the forum and this one is (hopefully!) likely going to be of interest to the readership here, I thought I’d pop up a link in the hope the trumpet blowing doesn’t upset anyone!
By: Tin Triangle - 30th March 2018 at 10:16
Terrific stuff Eliott and John both, many thanks!
All gone a bit quiet on the BHHH 109 front, I really hope the paperwork is done in time for it to attend some shows this year. Can’t help thinking it would be a wonderful sight chasing N3200 around the bend at Old Warden, although having read Eliott’s article I can’t imagine JR would want to risk operating it from Shuttleworth’s runway!
By: JohnTerrell - 29th March 2018 at 22:22
I know I’ve posted them here before, but these videos shot by Bud Granley (one of FHC’s chief pilots) really put you in the cockpit, and I figure are a good compliment to Elliott’s superb article.
Fly-Day event, flying with the FHC Mosquito:
Flying for a John Dibbs photoshoot:
By: GliderSpit - 29th March 2018 at 19:44
Great article. Thanks for posting.
By: DazDaMan - 28th March 2018 at 21:07
Great stuff! I’ll have a better read of it tomorrow.
By: SimonR - 28th March 2018 at 19:11
A very enjoyable read – many thanks for sharing it on the forum. Promote away!
Among many other interesting bits, I finally found out something that I’d wondered for a while, which is how orientating the V-12 up side down affects the oil system of the engine. I wondered if it suffered from hydraulic locking and how that was dealt with. Now I know.
Thanks again 🙂
By: DH82EH - 28th March 2018 at 18:53
Elliott.
Please do not ever hesitate to self promote!
Your articles are most enjoyable and getting to read them here is a highlight of the forum.
Much thanks for the link to an excellent article.
I was fortunate enough to meet John Romain on a couple of occasions when he flew at Niagara South.
I think it is pretty safe to say that we won’t be seeing any more 109’s in my neck of the woods any time soon (ever).
The DB-601 had a distinct sound. Very brutish, while the supercharger kind of put me in mind of a really powerful Porsche.
Andy
By: DCW - 28th March 2018 at 18:18
Excellent article, Elliott, and sensational pictures.
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March 28, 2018 at 6:08 pm