The Messerschmitt Me 309 was a prototype German fighter designed in the early years of World War II to replace the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Although it had many advanced features, the Me 309's performance left much to be desired and it suffered from so many problems that the project was cancelled with only four prototypes built. The Me 309 was one of several failed Messerschmitt projects intended to replace the aging Bf 109, the others being the Me 209 and the Me 209-II.

The Me 309 project began in mid-1940, just as the Bf 109 was having its first encounters with the Spitfire in the Battle of Britain, the first aircraft to match the 109 in speed and performance. Already Messerschmitt anticipated the need for an improved design to replace the Bf 109. The RLM, however, did not feel the same urgency, and the project was given a low priority and the design was not finalized until the end of 1941.

The new fighter had many novel features, such as tricycle landing gear and a pressurized cockpit which would have given it more comfortable and effective high-altitude performance. Each of the new features was first tested on a number of Bf 109F airframes, the V23 having a ventral radiator, the V31 with radiator and tricyle landing gear, and the V30 having a pressurized cockpit.

Low government interest in the project delayed completion of the first prototype until spring 1942 and trouble with the nosewheel pushed back the 309's first flight to July. When it did fly, the Me 309's performance was satisfactory but not exemplary. In fact, the Bf 109G could outturn its intended replacement. With the addition of armament, the plane's speed decreased to an unnacceptable level. In light of its poor performance and the much more promising development of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190D, the Me 309 was cancelled.

In 1943, Messerchmitt made one last attempt at creating a replacement for the Bf 109 in the form of the Me 209-II. It was essentially a modification of the existing 109 airframe, Messerschmitt designers not wanting to invest the time and trouble in a new design like the Me 309.

Specifications (Me 309)

General characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Length: 9.46 m (31 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 11.04 m (36 ft 3 in)
• Height: 3.90 m (12 ft 10 in)
• Wing area: 16.6 m² (179 ft²)
• Empty: 3,530 kg (7,766 lb)
• Loaded: 4,250 kg (9,350 lb)
• Maximum takeoff: kg ( lb)
• Powerplant: 1x Daimler-Benz DB 603 G, 1,308 kW (1,750 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 733 km/h (457 mph)
• Range: 1,100 km (686 miles)
• Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,360 ft)
• Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
• Wing loading: 256 kg/m² (52 lb/ft²)
• Power/Mass: 0.31 kW/kg (0.19 hp/lb)

Armament

• 2x 15 mm MG 151 machine guns
• 3x 13 mm MG 131 machine guns

Related content

Related development: Bf 109 - Me 209 - Me 209-II - Me 409 - Me 509 - Me 609

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence: Hs 297 - Hs 298 - Fw 300 - Me 309 - Me 310 - Do 317 - Do 318