During the late 1920s, the German
aeronautical engineer Willy Messerschmitt had undertaken the design of several capable
racing aircraft. Specifically, separate
BFW M.23s had won the
Circuit of Europe or
Challenge International de Tourisme during both
1929 and
1930; these victories, which came about as a result of the aircraft’s impressive performance, quickly garnered a favourable reputation and bolstered demand for Messerschmitt-designed aircraft. The announcement of the
1932 Circuit of Europe flight promptly led to Messerschmitt setting about producing an even more capable aircraft to capitalise on this opportunity; this work would result in the M.29. It was a clean-sheet design that was specifically orientated towards the sport and touring sectors. In order to prevent the separation of the air flow into large angles of attack, the wingtips were slightly warped. The performance of the flaps and ailerons were such that pilots were capable of conducting a stalled landing without needing to level off. The wing, was entirely composed of wood, had only a single spar and was wholly
cantilever. This covering was designed to have a favourable aerodynamic shape while the frame to which the wing spars were attached was constructed of sturdy
girders. Similarly, the attachment point between the frame and the landing gear was strongly braced. The cabin was fitted with adjustable
upholstered and roomy seats that were equipped with arm rests. The occupants could pass items between one another and, while the top was closed, conversation was possible. The rudder bar could also be adjusted. Aft of the seats was a compact baggage compartment. The skid was dampened using
rubber chords and could swivel while the aircraft was taxying. The landing gear was designed to generate as little air resistance as possible. The M.29 possessed considerable manoeuvrability while both the flight controls and control forces were relatively well balanced. ==Operational history==