Messerschmitt 109 Ground Loops at Berlin

[FireLight]

An Me-109 ground loops during an airshow. It appears the the right main gear collapses, causing the 109 to drift off the runway and then does a ground loop when the wing digs in.

Video here: http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/05/27/vo.germany.plane.skid.ap

I hope that the bird flies again. There aren't many flying now. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending which side you were on) landing accidents were a major cause of loss of many Me-109's during WWII.

[Messerschmitt Man]

That's not good at all, there is only a few airworthy 109's left, fortunately it doesn't look too serious.

[Rolling-Thunder]

IMO, the landing gear doesn't look like it's all the way down to begin with.

Wonder if the pilot had any indication of this before he landed?

[Alex - Spot-This !]

If I'm not mistaken it's the 2nd (or 3rd) time this particular Me-109 had the same kind of accident.

As long as the engine has no important damage I guess she should be back in the sky one day...

[ollieholmes]

I dont think this example has had a problem for a while. It is their other flying one that has groundlooped several times now.

It is a known problem with the Me109, they say more German pilots where killed in landing accidents in them than in combat. The problem comes down to narrow track undercarridge, they are mounted each side of the fuesalage practicaly and very little forward vision (eg none over the engine).

[ollieholmes]

That's not good at all, there is only a few airworthy 109's left, fortunately it doesn't look too serious.

I believe there are only two, this one and Ed Russels in Canada. The organisations other one (which is also down for repairs after a ground loop in taxi trials after repairs from a previous landing accident) is a re engined Spanish built Buchon.

[Dmmoore]

I read a report that the pilot knew the R/H gear was not locked down which accounts for the very careful touchdown.

Damage looks minimal, considering.

[Airfoilsguy]

A few questions
1. Why not cut the engine right before touch down an try and save the prop
2. Is there an indicator in that aircraft that would let you know of an unsafe gear condition or do you just know by feel.

[ollieholmes]

A few questions
1. Why not cut the engine right before touch down an try and save the prop
2. Is there an indicator in that aircraft that would let you know of an unsafe gear condition or do you just know by feel.

1. I dont know.
2. They do have an indicator but like everything they do sometimes go wrong.

Lets just be glad the pilot walked away and the aircraft is repairable.

[Alex - Spot-This !]

I believe there are only two, this one and Ed Russels in Canada. The organisations other one (which is also down for repairs after a ground loop in taxi trials after repairs from a previous landing accident) is a re engined Spanish built Buchon.

No there are at least 3 airworthy ones... I'm trying to make
a list right now

[ollieholmes]

In terms of flying Me109s i make it this:
Bf109 E-3 with the Flying Heritage Collection, this one has a Battle of Britain history.
Ed Russels Bf109, cant find what mark right this second.

The 3 with EADS aparently i have on good word may be Me109s but they have a fair few Buchon bits in them. Im pretty sure one is a Buchon with a Damiler Benz engine. The other two could be a 109 could be a Buchon.

[ollieholmes]

This video makes for interesting watching:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=EgvfklVzYZo&feature=related

[bob12312357]

A few questions
1. Why not cut the engine right before touch down an try and save the prop

I've never flown a ME-109,but planes I've been in with a really high wing loading and a large prop like to come down hard power off. Rather then risking a rediculous sink rate and collapsing both gear instantly and a 100+mph cartwheel, he sacraficed the prop and subjected the engine to a teardown while doing what he thought was best for the craft and his ass. .02