Bf 109 E - retractable tail gear?

[Bestmann]

Recently I read a German book about the Bf 109 stating that some of the earlier types, including the E-model, had retractable tail gears. I can't remember having ever seen that on a picture or in other documents. 

 

Any idea?

[indiaciki]

Might be true. Nothing in the manual but this (could be for transport only)- it is. For reassembling aircraft after transport.

Edited September 17, 2017 by indiaciki

[Bestmann]

That's interesting. I probably should check some of the original manuals to find out more about it.

[indiaciki]

Here's a lot of them  http://www.germanluftwaffe.com/archiv/Dokumente/ABC/m/Messerschmitt/Messerscmitt%20AG.htm

[Bestmann]

Thanks a lot!

[Kurfurst]

Probably planned but did not go into production in time, until the 109F appeared. It happens - 109Gs had squared main wheel wells (compared to rounded ones on the 109F) for the same reason, the installation of wheel well cover was planned but did not appear but on a handful of planes - until the 109K.

 

Economics might have played a reason, iirc the difference was only about 3-4 km/h of the extended tailwheel and the semi-retracted tail wheel, so it probably did not worth to disturb production for such a small gain until the next major series.

Edited September 19, 2017 by VO101Kurfurst