The Messerschmitt Me 609 (alternatively Me 309 Zwilling) was a World War II German project which joined two fuselages of the Me 309 fighter prototype together to form a heavy fighter.

Design and development

The project was initiated in response to a 1941 Reich Air Ministry requirement for a new Zerstörer (destroyer) to replace the Bf 110 in a minimum time and with a minimum of new parts. Messerschmitt's response was the Me 609, which would use the failed Me 309 project to form the basis of the new fighter. The Me 609 would have joined the two Me 309 fuselages with a new centre wing section. Only the two inner wheels of the joined Me 309's main landing gears would have been used and would retract into the centre section. This resulted in an unusual four-wheel arrangement. The pilot would have sat in a cockpit located in the port fuselage, with the starboard being smoothed over.

Two versions were planned: a heavy fighter with four or six 30 mm MK 108 cannons, and a Schnellbomber (fast bomber) variant with two 30 mm MK 108 cannons and a bomb load of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) carried beneath the fuselages. However, by late December 1942, Messerschmitt Me 609 project was cancelled at the drawing board.

Designation

One source claims that the Me 609 was actually a cover designation for test-ready, late-war Me 262s, not the twin-fuselage Me 309.

|prime units?=met

<!--

General characteristics

-->

|crew=1

|length m=9.72

|length note=

|span m=15.75

|span note=

|height m=3.43

|height note=

|wing area sqm=

|wing area note=

|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->

|airfoil=

|empty weight kg=5247

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=6534

|gross weight note=

|max takeoff weight kg=

|max takeoff weight note=

|fuel capacity=

|more general=

<!--

Powerplant

-->

|eng1 number=2

|eng1 name=Daimler-Benz DB 603

|eng1 type=

|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->

|eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->

|eng1 shp=<!-- prop engines -->

|eng1 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->

|eng1 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->

|eng1 note=

|prop blade number=3

|prop name=constant-speed propellers

|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->

|prop dia note=

<!--

Performance

-->

|max speed kmh=760

|max speed note=

|cruise speed kmh=

|cruise speed note=

|stall speed kmh=

|stall speed note=

|never exceed speed kmh=

|never exceed speed note=

|minimum control speed kmh=

|minimum control speed note=

|range km=

|range note=

|combat range km=

|combat range note=

|ferry range km=

|ferry range note=

|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->

|ceiling m=

|ceiling note=

|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->

|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->

|climb rate ms=

|climb rate note=

|time to altitude=

|wing loading kg/m2=

|wing loading note=

|fuel consumption kg/km=

|power/mass=

|more performance=<!--<br />

  • Take-off run:
  • Take-off run to :
  • Landing run:
  • Landing run from : -->

<!--

Armament

-->

|guns=2 × 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannons

  • 4 × 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannons

|bombs=1000 kg (2,204 lb) of bombs

See also

References

Sources

  • Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Fighters, vol. I. London: Hanover House, 1960.
  • Lepage, Jean-Denis G.G. Aircraft of the Luftwaffe, 1935–1945: An Illustrated Guide. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2009.