German aeroplane designer whose ME-109 was a standard Lufwaffe fighter during World War II, and whose ME-262 was the first mass-produced jet fighter. Messerschmitt aeroplanes were characterized by a simple concept, minimum weight and aerodynamic drag. The ME-109 held the world speed record of 610 km/hour from 1937. He was born in Frankfurt and studied at the Technische Schule in Munich. A glider he designed with Friedrich Harth achieved a world duration record in 1921. The folowing year they set up a flying school and in 1923 formed his own company in Bamberg. Its first product was the S-14 monoplane glider. He produced his first powered aircraft in 1925, the ME-17. In 1926 came the ME-18. In 1934 the ME-37 was build, a low-wing four seater cabin monoplane with retractable landing gear and flaps. By 1938 Messerschmitt was appointed general director of the company manufacturing his designs ( Bayerisch Flugzeugwerke renamed Messerschmitt Aktiengesellschaft) He and his company went on to produce numerous designs for fighter, bomber and transport aircraft. At the end of World War II Messerschmitt was held prisoner for 2 years by the Allies ans was banned from manufacturing aircraft in Germany. He took up the aircraft design in 1952 under contract with Spanish manufacturer Hispano. Between 1956 and 1964 he worked in association with the German Bolkow and Heinkel companies and developed the VJ-101 supersonic V/STOL (vertical takeoff and landing)combat plane. His company merged with Bolkov in 1963 and they were later joined by Hamburger Flugzeugbau. In 1969 Messerschmitt became chair of the resulting Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm Group. Messerschmitt died in 1978.
German aeroplane designer whose ME-109 was a standard Lufwaffe fighter during World War II, and whose ME-262 was the first mass-produced jet fighter. Messerschmitt aeroplanes were characterized by a simple concept, minimum weight and aerodynamic drag. The ME-109 held the world speed record of 610 km/hour from 1937. He was born in Frankfurt and studied at the Technische Schule in Munich. A glider he designed with Friedrich Harth achieved a world duration record in 1921. The folowing year they set up a flying school and in 1923 formed his own company in Bamberg. Its first product was the S-14 monoplane glider. He produced his first powered aircraft in 1925, the ME-17. In 1926 came the ME-18. In 1934 the ME-37 was build, a low-wing four seater cabin monoplane with retractable landing gear and flaps. By 1938 Messerschmitt was appointed general director of the company manufacturing his designs ( Bayerisch Flugzeugwerke renamed Messerschmitt Aktiengesellschaft) He and his company went on to produce numerous designs for fighter, bomber and transport aircraft. At the end of World War II Messerschmitt was held prisoner for 2 years by the Allies ans was banned from manufacturing aircraft in Germany. He took up the aircraft design in 1952 under contract with Spanish manufacturer Hispano. Between 1956 and 1964 he worked in association with the German Bolkow and Heinkel companies and developed the VJ-101 supersonic V/STOL (vertical takeoff and landing)combat plane. His company merged with Bolkov in 1963 and they were later joined by Hamburger Flugzeugbau. In 1969 Messerschmitt became chair of the resulting Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm Group. Messerschmitt died in 1978.
