Leading Edge Slats on the Me-109

[Flanker35M]

S!

As Kurfürst said, the slats on Bf109 have no springs. They are on rails sliding forth and back depending on AoA. Moved them on the Finnish Bf109G-6 in Tikkakoski.

[Redroach]

Mh there still seem to be doubts... optically, some confirm that they work, but functionally?
My personal, albeit not extensive, experience, is that the Me-109s are VERY flimsy at slow speeds, when compared to its IL-2 1946 incarnations. Every remotely hard aileron/rudder input could lead into a spin imho - that's why I was asking.

[bongodriver]

slats don't prevent spins

[lonewulf]

I clipped the following info from the wikipedia on the subject of leading edge slats to back up my comments:

Leading Edge Slats
"Types include:
Automatic - the slat lies flush with the wing leading edge until reduced aerodynamic forces allow it to extend by way of springs when needed.
Fixed - the slat is permanently extended. This is sometimes used on specialist low-speed aircraft (these are referred to as slots) or when simplicity takes precedence over speed.
Powered - the slat extension can be controlled by the pilot. This is commonly used on airliners."

"During World War II German aircraft commonly fitted a more advanced version that pushed back flush against the wing by air pressure to reduce drag, popping out when the airflow decreased during slower flight. Notable slats of that time belonged to the German Fieseler Fi 156 Storch. These were similar in design to retractable slats, but were fixed non-retractable slots. The slotted wing allowed this aircraft to take off into a light wind in less than 45 m (150 ft), and land in 18 m (60 ft). Aircraft designed by the Messerschmitt company employed leading-edge slats as a general rule."

If someone has some conflicting information to backup their views that the 109s LES weren't spring actuated, I'd be interested to see it.

[Al Schlageter]

Originally Posted by lonewulf

If someone has some conflicting information to backup their views that the 109s LES weren't spring actuated, I'd be interested to see it.

http://109lair.hobbyvista.com/techre...lats/slats.htm

[Random_Nonsense]

Originally Posted by lonewulf

If someone has some conflicting information to backup their views that the 109s LES weren't spring actuated, I'd be interested to see it.

I've pushed the slats in and out on a Buchon . No springs on them and they are pretty similar to a 109

[lonewulf]

Well, on the basis of the info supplied by Schlageter and Random Nonsense it appears that I was wrong about the slats. I withdraw and apologize.

[Redroach]

Can one, for once, have a clear answer on the original subject, please? It seems to be a tough task...

[Al Schlageter]

Originally Posted by lonewulf

Well, on the basis of the info supplied by Schlageter and Random Nonsense it appears that I was wrong about the slats. I withdraw and apologize.

You might want to ponder why in some photos the slats are out, in other photos the slats are in and in other photos one side is in and the other side is out.

[5./JG27.Farber]

Originally Posted by lonewulf

I clipped the following info from the wikipedia

Wikipedia is by far the worst source for any information. You might as well ask a stranger in the street. You can actually find contradictions on the same page on most things on wiki if you look hard enough.... Sometimes not even that hard.

Like you, I also found this out the hard way.