Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun

During 1933, the German aircraft manufacturer Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) received a contract from the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM/German Aviation Ministry) to produce an aircraft to compete in the 4th Challenge International de Tourisme (1934). The resulting aircraft, which was internally designated as M 37 and subsequently received the official designation Bf 108, was a four-seat sports/recreation aircraft designed by the aeronautical engineer Willy Messerschmitt. In terms of its design, the Bf 108 represented a departure from many of the company's existing design practices; foremost of which, it was the first aircraft of its size to use all-metal stressed skin construction. Even during these early flights, the aircraft proved to be relatively safe yet quick, possessing excellent low-speed flight characteristics and being pleasant to fly. Furthermore, the aircraft's metal structure proved to be fairly maintenance-friendly. During 1934, the first production-standard model, designated Bf 108A, made its first flight. One year later, it was followed by the Bf 108B, which was powered by the substantially larger, 12.67 litre displacement Argus As 10 air-cooled inverted V8 engine. ==Operational history==

As planned, the BF 108 participated in the 4th Challenge International de Tourisme. The aircraft involved in the Mechelen Incident was a Bf 108 and one served with the small long-range bombing group based in Africa. Mid-way through the conflict, production of the Bf 108 was transferred from Germany to Les Mureaux in occupied France. After the war, these assembly lines remained in the possession of the French aircraft manufacturer SNCAN; that continued production of the type as the Nord 1000 Pingouin. Many of the postwar movie portrayals of the Bf 108 have been performed by the French-built derivatives of the type, which include the Pingouin and the further-improved Nord Noralpha. ==Variants==

;Bf 108A and his wife, Fel Gudrun, with a Messerschmitt Bf 108 (1938) :Initial version designed in 1934 for use in Challenge 1934. Six were built with the Hirth HM 8U, one other initially had a 220 PS (217 hp, 162 kW) Argus As 17B inline engine and later a 160 PS (158 hp, 118 kW) Siemens-Halske Sh 14 radial. ;Nord 1100 Noralpha :Bf 108 derivative built after the war by SNCAN in France with tricycle landing gear and a Renault engine. ==Operators==

in Dübendorf, Switzerland. ; • Varig ; • Bulgarian Air Force Six aircraft purchased, used mainly for training. ; • Chinese Nationalist Air Force ; • Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia ; • Czechoslovak Air Force operated this type postwar under designation K-70. ; • ''Armée de l'Air'' operated captured Bf 108s and postwar-built Nord 1000 aircraft. ; • Luftwaffe ; • Royal Hungarian Air Force operated seven Bf 108s from 1937 to 1945 ; • Regia Aeronautica ; • Imperial Japanese Army Air Service ; • Manchukuo National Airways ; • Royal Norwegian Air Force (Postwar) ; • Polish Air Force operated a few captured Bf 108s postwar. ; • Royal Romanian Air Force ; • Spanish Air Force ; • Swiss Air Force ; • Soviet Air Force operated several captured Bf 108s. ; • Royal Air Force operated four Bf 108s, under the designation "Messerschmitt Aldon", which were impressed from private owners on the outbreak of the war. Reportedly they were the fastest light communications aircraft the RAF had, but they were also sometimes mistaken for Bf 109s although there is no record of any fatal encounters. Postwar, 15 more captured Bf 108s flew in RAF colours until the mid 1950s. ; • United States Army Air Corps - in early 1939, a single Bf 108B was purchased for $14,378 and designated XC-44. It was used only by the US air attaché in Berlin. In November 1941, the aircraft was assessed as unserviceable. The airframe was seized by the Nazi government, following the commencement of hostilities, in December. ; • Yugoslav Royal Air Force ==Specifications (Bf 108B)==