Bf109 Supercharger

[83_Gen_Jeroen]

Hi fellow pilots,

 

anyone knows if the Bf109 has a supercharger at all and is it manually or automatic controlled?

[Finkeren]

Yes and yes it is automatic.

Under normal circumstances the only engine control operated by the pilot in the 109 during flight was the throttle. All other systems were automated.

[Praetor]

I like using manual prop pitch in climbs though, or when I get caught in turns.

[ShamrockOneFive]

It's safe to say that anything in Battle of Stalingrad is using a supercharger. Most WWII combat aircraft used a supercharger.... there's all kinds of different types but nearly all had them. As I understand it, the Bf109 has the supercharger setup as a continuously variable system so that the engine is always in its best efficiency for the altitude. The Russians used a two stage supercharger with manually switched gears depending on the altitude and power range.

[MiloMorai]

wouldn't that be 2 speed supercharger?

[ShamrockOneFive]

wouldn't that be 2 speed supercharger?

The Russian one? Yes, 2 stage supercharger or 2 speed. I think both are accurate enough? The Bf109 is variable... no stages.

[JtD]

Two stage is two superchargers in a row, usually with one of the two idling at lower altitude, whereas a two speed supercharger has one stage with two running speeds, lower speed for lower altitude. The R-2800 on the F4U was, iIrc, a two stage three speed supercharger, with the first stage run at three different speeds - neutral, low and high.

 

But you're right with the DB601 and DB605 on the Bf109 - single stage, variable speed. It used a fixed speed at low altitude and an aneroid controlled hydraulic clutch to increase speed of the impeller at altitudes above ~2100m. No direct input from the pilot there.

[83_Gen_Jeroen]

A two stage supercharger with two chargers is a row, is that not called a hypercharger?

[JtD]

No, that's just a type of air intake - but a type that nearly all aircraft had. It utilizes speed related ram pressure for increased engine boost.

[ShamrockOneFive]

Two stage is two superchargers in a row, usually with one of the two idling at lower altitude, whereas a two speed supercharger has one stage with two running speeds, lower speed for lower altitude. The R-2800 on the F4U was, iIrc, a two stage three speed supercharger, with the first stage run at three different speeds - neutral, low and high.

 

But you're right with the DB601 and DB605 on the Bf109 - single stage, variable speed. It used a fixed speed at low altitude and an aneroid controlled hydraulic clutch to increase speed of the impeller at altitudes above ~2100m. No direct input from the pilot there.

Interesting!

[SOLIDKREATE]

I wish the super charger was manual in the 109. I like having 'control' of my plane. But....if this is how it was then we can't argue with history.

[Finkeren]

I wish the super charger was manual in the 109. I like having 'control' of my plane. But....if this is how it was then we can't argue with history.

You'll eventuallly get full control of the 109. We can override the automatic RPM governor and eventuallly I'm sure we'll get manual override for the radiators as well.

 

Pretty sure neither supercharger nor mixture could be controlled manually though.