| HA-1112 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| HA-1112 K. 1. L Tripala | |
| Role | Fighter |
| Manufacturer | Messerschmitt Hispano Aviación |
| First flight | 1951 |
| Retired | 1965 |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | Spanish Air Force |
| Developed from | Messerschmitt Bf 109 |
Contents
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Design and development
The Spanish government in 1942 arranged a manufacturing licence with Messerschmitt AG to build the Bf 109G-2, with DB605A engines, propellers, instruments, and weapons to be supplied from Germany. This proved impossible, as Germany was incapable of meeting her own needs, let alone Spain's; in the event, only twenty-five airframes (minus their tails) and not even half the necessary drawings were delivered.[1]As a result, Hispano substituted the 1,300 hp Hispano-Suiza 12Z-89 engine, which flew at Barcelona in 1944, while the first HA-1109-J1L made its maiden flight 2 March 1945 at Seville, using a VDM prop and lash-up engine mounting.[2] The other twenty-four airframes were flown during 1947-9 with Escher-Wyss props, but never became operational.
A developed version, with an improved installation for the Hispano-Suiza 12Z-17 engine, appeared in May 1951 as the HA-1112-K1L.[2] Fitted with a three bladed DH Hydromatic[2] propeller, it was nicknamed Tripala ("three blades"). Its armament consisted of one or two 12.7mm Breda machineguns[2] and Pilatus eight-packs of 80mm rockets.
It first flew in 1951, and although 200 units were planned, only 65 were ever built. The Hispano engine was an upright V12 in contrast to the inverted V12 Daimler-Benz DB 601 & 605 engines used in the Bf 109. Being however of compact design, it fitted the airframe of the Me109 well, representing it in the German Film "Star of Africa". In the original design, an asymmetric vertical fin with an airfoiled profile had been introduced starting with the Bf 109F to produce a slight left movement of the tail, which counteracted the left-side torque reaction from the Daimler-Benz engine's counterclockwise rotation. Since this was left unchanged in the Buchón, and the Hispano V12 powered a clockwise-turning propeller, the combination of the airfoiled fin and the clockwise-turning propeller created a hard-to-counteract right swing on takeoff, since the fin and the propeller essentially worked in the same direction.
A second version, the HA-1110-K1L, was a two-place tandem trainer model.[2]
HA-1112-M1L
The final variant was the HA-1112-M1L Buchón (Pouter), which is both a male dove or a pelican in Spanish. It first flew 29 March 1954. The 1112-M1L was equipped with the 1,600 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 500-45[3] surplus bargain engine and Rotol propeller.[3] This clumsy though reliable "power-egg" WW2 bomber engine had a deep chin intake, that ruined the sleek lines of the Me109 visually. As such, this plane was an improvised assembly of outdated components for the specific purpose of controlling Spanish colonial territories in Africa where a higher level of technology was unnecessary, and moreover not available in isolated Spain at the time. Its armament consisted of two 20 mm Hispano-Suiza 404/408 cannons and two Oerlikon or Pilatus eight-packs of 80 mm rockets. It remained in service until 27 December 1965.HA-1112-M1Ls remained in flying condition until the mid-1960s. This made them available for theatrical use, disguised as Bf 109Es and Gs in movies like Battle of Britain, Memphis Belle, and The Tuskegee Airmen. Remarkably, Buchons also played the Bf 109's opposition, the Hawker Hurricane, in one scene in Battle of Britain.
Variants
- HA-1109-J1L - 1945 - the initial 25 Bf109 G-2 aircraft, from German production, with Hispano-Suiza 12Z-89 engines fitted, in lieu of Daimler-Benz DB 605A's, using VDM or Escher-Wyss propellers. Not used operationally. 25 built.
- HA-1109-K1L - 1951 - first production of HA-1112-K1L. Fitted with a Hispano-Suiza 12Z-17 engine and de Havilland Hydromatic propeller in an improved installation, this version appeared in May 1951 armed with two Hispano HS-404 20mm cannon and 80mm rockets. 25 conversions from a HA-1109-J1L.
- HA-1112-K1L "Tripala" - 1951 - used operationally. 65 built (25 conversions from a HA-1109-K1L).
- HA-1109-M1L- prototype of HA-1112-M1L. A single aircraft modified with a Rolls-Royce Merlin 500-45 engine. One conversion from a HA-1112-K1L.
- HA-1110-K1L - Hispano powered two-seat trainer version. Used operationally. One built.
- HA-1110-M1L - RR Merlin powered two-seat trainer version. Project only
- HA-1111-K1L - Hispano powered two-seat trainer version with wingtip mounted fuel tanks. Project only.
- HA-1112-M1L "Buchon" - 1954 - the final variant fitted with a RR Merlin engine and armed with two Hispano HS-404 20mm cannon and 80mm rockets. Used operationally. 172 built.
- HA-1112-M4L - Merlin engined two-seat trainer. Used operationally. One built and one conversion from a HA-1110-K1L.
Specifications
HA-1112-K1L
- Wing span: 9,92 m (32 ft, 6 inches)
- Length: 8.49 m (26 ft, 3 inches)
- Height: 2.60 m (8 ft, 6 inches)
- Wing surface: 16 m² (172 square ft)
- Wing load: 200 kg/m2 (41 lb/square ft)
- Empty weight: 2,475 kg (5456 lb)
- Maximum weight: 3,200 kg (7054 lb)
- Engine: 1,300 hp Hispano-Suiza 12Z-17 V12; three-bladed Hamilton propeller
- Maximum speed: 600 km/h (324 knots)
- Cruise speed: 400 km/h (216 knots)
- Service ceiling: 9800 m (32,150 ft)
- Range: 690 km (373 NM) without external fuel containers
- Crew: 1 person
- Armament: two 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404/408 cannons; and two racks of 8 x 80 mm Oerlikon rockets
HA-1112-M1L
- Wing span: 9.92 m (32 ft, 6 inches)
- Length: 9.13 m (30 ft)
- Height: 2.60 m (8 ft, 6 inches)
- Wing surface: 16 m² (172 square ft)
- Wing load: 206 kg/m² (42.2 lb/square ft)
- Empty weight: 2,666 kg (5877 lb)
- Maximum weight: 3,330 kg (7341 lb)
- Engine: 1,600 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 500/45 V12, a four-bladed Rotol propeller
- Maximum speed: 665 km/h (360 knots)
- Initial climb rate: 1.700 m/min (5,580 ft/min)[4]
- Service ceiling: 10,200 m (33,500 ft)
- Range: 765 km (415 NM) without external fuel containers
- Crew: 1 man
- Armament: two 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404/408 cannons; and two racks of 8 x 80 mm Oerlikon rockets
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