Me 109 canopy with slot at the top?!

[Don Pearson]

A quick glance at some references show the slot/bar in a variety of E-7, F-2 and F-4 models. Appears to have disappeared with the G-model and the pressurised cabin.

Don

[stephen f. polyak]

Speaking with my aeronautical engineering hat on . . . Practical considerations would make a slot unlikely. Such an opening would allow weather in (rain) and would likely admit/produce noise. I suggest it’s the means by which the top canopy panel is slid open/closed for ventilation from within the cockpit at the pilot's choosing. It appears to be a bonded piece of Plexiglas to reduce visual obstruction. The placement and shape of the part allows its use with either hand, or possibly even with a nudge of the head.

[George Hopp]

109D night fighters had a section in the top of the canopy that could be slid back. Sliding back the section would give the pilot a clear view of the sky above and in front of him. So, maybe, although it's hard to tell.

[Peter D Evans]

I can't make my mind up one way or another. I've searched through all the resources I have and it appears that the slot or glued handle appears more often than not on canopy's belonging to F-series Bf109's, especially those with the auxiliary bullet resistant 57mm windscreen. The image below shows a Bf109F-4 with both and is reproduced from German Aircraft Interiors 1935-45 [Monogram, 1996]

Cheers

Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

[stephen f. polyak]

Perhaps the answer can be found in period F-series pilot or parts manuals.

[F19Gladiator]

Seems to be a "less well documented" part of the Bf 109. However, when studying photos of F-2 and F-4 versions I get the impression that the horizontal top roof part is divided into two parts, enabling the front part to slide under the aft and fixed perspex part. On some photos it is visible that the front part is located slightly lower that the aft part, enabling it to slide under.....
The "slot" is more likely a piece glued to the moving front perspex part enabling better grip when sliding it.

A photo of Wick in an E-4 cockpit on page 117 in "Major Helmut Wick" by Herbert Ringstetter, Motorbuch Verlag, in my opinion shows such a transparent "handle" pointing downwards, perpendicular to the top horizontal front perspex part - Visible as a "white" part contrasting against the darker metal frame.

Goran