Messerschmitt Bf109E-3 "Emil"\
\
This early war variant of the Messerschmitt was the finest fighter aircraft in
the world in 1939-40.  Only the RAF Spitfire MkI was a match for it.\
\
Though several Messerschmitt designs have the prefix, "ME," the 109 is usually
referred to as the Bf 109.  Bf stands for the company that originally manufactured
the aircraft - the Bayrische Flugzeugwerke (Bavarian Flying Works).\
\
History\
The Emil culminated a revolution in fighter aircraft design that began in the
mid 1930s with the introduction of all metal low wing monoplanes.  Although
monoplanes had been employed in fighter design since the First World War,
conventional thinking held that turning circle was a fighter's principle virtue.
Thus for a decade and a half, following WWI, open cockpit biplanes were still
being developed as front line fighter aircraft.\
\
Nothing could have been further from the conventional wisdom than Willy
Messerschmitt's 109.  High wing loaded, heavily armed, and employing the fuel
injected, high displacement Daimler Benz 600 series engine, the 109 climbed
quickly, flew fast, and dove swiftly.  It was the perfect tool for a new era of
fighter combat, where the ultimate aim was to deliver weapons, in the most rapid
manner possible, to a target in the sky, and to leave as suddenly as you
arrived.  Air combat was no longer an exercise in militant aerobatics.\
\
The Bf109 in Air Warrior\
The Emil is seldom flown online in Air Warrior except in historical missions.  In those, and in offline campaigns, it is an extremely competitive, capable aircraft. The 109E versus Spitfire MkI is, perhaps, the best matchup in the game.\
\
Armament: two, 7.9mm machine guns; two, 20mm cannon. Ammo Load: 1000
machine gun rounds per gun; 60 cannon shells per gun. Payload: one, 550lb bomb.
\
^
Performance\
\
The Emil was among the fastest aircraft of its day, capable of 300kts.  Unlike
most of its contemporaries, had good high altitude performance, with a service
ceiling of over 30,000.  Its roll rate is excellent below 250kts, but it suffers
progressive stiffness of all controls above 300kts.\
\
~
Performance Comparison\
\
Against Hurricanes, the Emil has substantial advantages in speed and climb.
Against Spit Mk1s, the Emil can climb faster and higher, and it can out dive
either adversary, in part owning to its ability to sustain full engine
performance under negative G.  Both the Hurricane and the Spitfire can out turn
the 109.  Thus the Emil driver would be well advised to not get into a slow,
turning dogfight against either RAF aircraft.
\