Leading Edge Slats on the Me-109

[NZtyphoon]

Originally Posted by Varrattu

Just out of curiosity ... ...

Has anyone of you experience flying a real BF109E?

Regards

Nope, but it is interesting to read the reports of pilots who have. (also cited by Buzzsaw)

Once familiar with coordination of propeller pitch with speed changes, the Bf-109 and I performed some gentle aerobatics together – strictly for technical investigation, you understand. Loops were enlightening. The low directional stability could result in comically large heading variations unless careful rudder coordination was applied. I was reminded of a long-ago instructor of mine, who remarked upon seeing my aerobatics, “Nice loop. Now do one to the right.” It was easily mastered with practice. Multiple manoeuvres seemed to result in a notable decay in speed, particularly whenever the leading edge slats deployed; a stark contrast to the Spitfire, whose elliptical wings retain energy nicely under sustained ‘g’. The Messerschmitt was paying the price for its high wing loading.

The 109 needed slats to compensate for its high wing loading and lack of washout, which lots of other other fighters had; eg: Spitfire, Fw 190. Slats were simply another way of changing the stall characteristics of a highly loaded wing. They were not the miraculous device that some seem to think.