Design and development
The first prototype Bf 108V1 was flown on June 13, 1934. The aircraft was a cantilever low-wing aircraft with retractable main landing gear legs and a tail crutch, covered by a four-seat cockpit. The aircraft of the first batch, named Bf 108A, were equipped with 8-cylinder air-cooled Hirt НМ 8U engines (225 hp) - with the exception of one instance, which received a 6-cylinder Argus As 17В engine (220 hp).

Deliveries of pre-production Bf 108В-0 began in July 1935, serial ones in December. The modification "B" was equipped with an 8-cylinder V-shaped inverted piston Argus As 10C air-cooled engine with a capacity of 240 hp. with .. The wingspan was increased, the tail crutch was replaced with a wheel. Since 1939, only the military version of the B-2 with a folding wing began to be produced (the civilian version of the B-1 was originally produced as well).

During World War II, the production of Bf 108 was transferred to the occupied territory of France, the production of aircraft continued until early 1944. The total number of aircraft built in Germany (and occupied France) is estimated at 885 units, (of which 285 were manufactured after the war in France as Nord 1000 "Penguin", French Nord 1000 Pingouin.).
Operational history
In the Luftwaffe, Bf 108B / D aircraft were used mainly as messengers. Aircraft were attached to groups and squadrons of combat aviation, Luftwaffe headquarters at various levels. For use in North Africa, some of the aircraft were modified to the Bf 108B-2 / trop variant. Also Bf 108 served in the so-called "German Air Service" (Deutsche Luftdienst), where they were used for various auxiliary purposes. There were "Typhoons" and in aviation schools, but there they were used most often as messengers, and not training.

Bf 108s have been exported quite widely. 6 Bf 108В-1 were ordered by the Hungarian Air Force, during the war against the USSR, Hungary delivered several more Typhoons. 12 Bf 108В-1 received Yugoslavia. The Swiss Air Force received 12 Bf 108В-1 in 1939, operating them until the early 50s.

10 Bf 108В-1 "in a package" with Bf 109Е fighters in 1940 were delivered to Romania. Bulgaria received 6 Bf 108В in 1941 under the same "package" conditions in 1941.

For testing in 1936, one Bf 108B was bought by Japan, and in 1940, two aircraft were delivered to the USSR. In 1939, the United States bought (or leased) three Bf 108Bs for the needs of its military and naval attaché in Berlin (they received the designation XC-44). After the US entered the war in December 1941, these vehicles were confiscated by Germany. One Bf-108В from 1939 to the early 50s. served in the Chilean Air Force.

4 Bf 108В, operated in Great Britain, after the outbreak of World War II were confiscated by the British government and for some time operated in the RAF under the designation "Messerschmitt" "Aldon". However, they had to be abandoned due to the danger of confusing the Aldon with the Bf 109. Due to the general similarity, instead of the Bf-109, Typhoons were often seen in post-war films.





















Specifications (Bf 108B)
General characteristics
Crew: 1 or 2
Capacity: 2 or 3 passengers
Length: 8.29 m (27 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 10.5 m (34 ft 5 in)
Height: 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Wing area: 16.4 m2 (177 sq ft)
Airfoil: root: NACA 2416; tip: NACA 2413
Empty weight: 806 kg (1,777 lb)
Gross weight: 1,350 kg (2,976 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Argus As 10C V-8 inverted air-cooled piston engine, 174 kW (233 hp)
Propellers: 2-bladed variable-pitch propeller
Performance
Maximum speed: 305 km/h (190 mph, 165 kn)
Cruise speed: 260 km/h (160 mph, 140 kn)
Landing speed: 85 km/h (53 mph; 46 kn)
Range: 1,000 km (620 mi, 540 nmi) at 250 km/h (160 mph; 130 kn)
Service ceiling: 6,200 m (20,300 ft) (with 3 pax + 50 kg (110 lb) baggage)
Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 3 minutes 12 seconds

2,000 m (6,600 ft) in 7 minutes 30 seconds
3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 14 minutes
4,000 m (13,000 ft) in 22 minutes
5,000 m (16,000 ft) in 39 minutes

Wing loading: 82.3 kg/m2 (16.9 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass: 0.133 kW/kg (0.081 hp/lb)