Hispano Aviación HA-1112 explained

The Hispano Aviación HA-1109 and HA-1112 are licence-built versions of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 developed in Spain during and after World War II.

Design and development

In 1942, the Spanish government arranged a manufacturing licence with Messerschmitt AG to build the Bf 109 G-2, although the DB 605A engines, propellers, instruments and weapons were to be supplied from Germany. This proved impossible as Germany was incapable of meeting its own needs, let alone Spain's, and only 25 airframes (without their tails) and less than half the necessary drawings were actually delivered.[1] Consequently, Hispano Aviación replaced the DB 605A engine with the 1,300 hp HS 89-12Z and the project was renamed Bf 109 J by Messerschmitt.[2] The HS 89-12Z engine performed a successful flight in a Bf 109 E used as a flying testbed in Barcelona in 1944, and the first HA-1109-J1L made its maiden flight on 2 March 1945 in Seville, using a VDM propeller and lash-up engine mounting.[3] The remaining 24 airframes were flown during 1947–9 with Escher-Wyss props, but never became operational.

In May 1951, a developed version, the HA-1112-K1L, improved the Hispano-Suiza, HS 17-12Z engine installation, and carried either one or two 12.7mm Breda machine guns and Pilatus eight-packs of 80mm rockets. Its three-bladed de Havilland Hydromatic propeller earned it the nickname Tripala ("three blades").

It first flew in 1951, and although 200 were planned only 65 were built. The Hispano engine was an upright V12 instead of the inverted V12 Daimler-Benz DB 601 & 605 engines used in the Bf 109 but, being of compact design, it fitted the airframe of the Bf 109 well and was able to credibly represent the Bf 109 in the German 1957 film Der Stern von Afrika (The Star of Africa) about Luftwaffe ace Hans-Joachim Marseille. The original design, starting with the Bf 109F, had an asymmetrical tail-fin aerofoil with a left deflection to counteract the torque from the Daimler-Benz's clockwise rotation. Because this was left unchanged in the Tripala despite the Hispano V12 having a counter-clockwise rotation, the tail and the engine together induced a right swing on takeoff that was hard to counteract.

A second version, the HA-1110-K1L, was a two-place tandem trainer model.[3]

HA-1112-M1L

The final variant was the HA-1112-M1L Buchón (Pouter), which is a male dove in Spanish. It first flew on 29 March 1954 with a 1,600 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 500-45[4] engine and Rotol four bladed propeller, both purchased as surplus from the UK.[4] This engine had a chin intake that altered the lines of the Bf 109's airframe. It was an improvised assembly of outdated components but this was appropriate for the intended purpose of controlling Spanish colonial territories in Africa, where more sophisticated technology was both unnecessary and unavailable in isolated Spain at the time. It carried two 20 mm Hispano-Suiza 404/408 cannons and two Oerlikon or Pilatus eight-packs of 80 mm rockets and remained in service until 27 December 1965.

In film

Due to their longevity, Buchóns have appeared in several war films masquerading as Bf 109s. In films such as Battle of Britain (alongside CASA 2.111 bombers, a Spanish-built version of the Heinkel He 111), Der Stern von Afrika, Memphis Belle, Dunkirk and The Tuskegee Airmen. Buchons also played the Bf 109's opposition, the Hawker Hurricane, in one scene in Battle of Britain.

Variants

HA-1109-J1L
  • 1945the initial 25 units built of the Bf 109 G-2 aircraft, from German production, with Hispano-Suiza 12Z-89 engines fitted, in lieu of Daimler-Benz DB 605A's, using VDM or Escher-Wyss propellers. Not used operationally.
    HA-1109-K1L
  • 1951first production of HA-1112-K1L. Fitted with a Hispano-Suiza 12Z-17 engine and a de Havilland Hydromatic propeller in an improved installation, this version appeared in May 1951 armed with two Hispano HS-404 20mm cannon and 80mm rockets. 25 conversions from a HA-1109-J1L.
    HA-1109-M1L
  • prototype of HA-1112-M1L. A single aircraft modified with a Rolls-Royce Merlin 500-45 engine. One conversion from a HA-1112-K1L.
    HA-1110-K1L
  • Hispano powered two-seat trainer version. Used operationally. One built.
    HA-1110-M1L
  • RR Merlin powered two-seat trainer version. Project only.
    HA-1111-K1L
  • Hispano powered two-seat trainer version with wingtip mounted fuel tanks. Project only.
    HA-1112-K1L "Tripala"
  • 1951used operationally. 65 built (25 conversions from a HA-1109-K1L).
    HA-1112-M1L "Buchon"
  • 1954the final variant fitted with a RR Merlin engine and armed with two Hispano HS-404 20mm cannon and 80mm rockets. Used operationally. 172 built.
    HA-1112-M4L
  • Merlin engined two-seat trainer. Used operationally. One built and one conversion from a HA-1110-K1L.

    Aircraft on display

    References

    Sources

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare (London: Phoebus, 1978), Volume 11, p.1193, "HA-1109/1112".
    2. Web site: The last in a long line, by J.A. Guerrero. AERONAUTICA andaluza Nº26 review, 2013.. dead. 2017-12-15. 2015-09-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20150925072258/http://issuu.com/joete6/docs/ha-1112_reportaje_aeronautica_26.
    3. Fitzsimons, p.1193, "HA-1109/1112".
    4. Fitzsimons, p.1194, "HA-1109/1112".
    5. Web site: Hangar 3 del Museo de Aeronáutica y Astronáutica. Ejército del Aire. 31 January 2017. es. https://web.archive.org/web/20180118123310/http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=E5145185FA1157E1C125746C002E58F4. 18 January 2018. dead.
    6. Web site: Airframe Dossier - MesserschmittBf-109 / HA-1109/1110/1112 / S-99/199, s/n C.4J-10 EdA, c/n 56. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 25 January 2017.
    7. Web site: Bf109 Buchon G-AWHE. Flying Legends. 31 January 2017. 17 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200617052421/https://www.flyinglegends.com/aircraft/bf109-buchon-spit.html. dead.
    8. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Messerschmitt-Hispano HA-1112-M1L, s/n C.4K-31 EdA, c/r G-AWHE. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 25 January 2017.
    9. Web site: GINFO Search Results [G-AWHE]]. Civil Aviation Authority. 31 January 2017. 25 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425122716/http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalapplication.aspx?catid=1&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=detailnosummary&fullregmark=AWHE. dead.
    10. News: Messerschmitt Progress. 31 January 2017. Warbirds News. Warbirds News. 24 November 2014.
    11. News: Messerschmitt in Pungo – Military Aviation Museum's Bf-109 Arrives in USA. 31 January 2017. Warbirds News. Warbirds News. 3 November 2015.
    12. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Messerschmitt Bf-109G-5 Gustav, s/n C.4K-64 EdA, c/n 133, c/r N109FF. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 25 January 2017.
    13. Web site: FAA REGISTRY [N109FF]]. Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. 31 January 2017. 25 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425115037/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N109FF. dead.
    14. Web site: Hispano HA-1112 "Buchon" no C-4K-156 Code 471-28 . List'In MAE . 30 October 2023 . French.
    15. Web site: HISPANO HA–1112–M1L BUCHÓN. Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation. 25 January 2017. 25 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425120341/http://casmuseum.techno-science.ca/en/collection-research/research-hispano-1112-m1l-buchon.php. dead.
    16. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Messerschmitt-Hispano HA-1112-M1L, s/n C.4K-114 EdA, c/n 164. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 25 January 2017.
    17. Web site: Hispano Aviacion HA-1112 Buchon. Air Zoo. 25 January 2017.
    18. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Messerschmitt-Hispano HA-1112-M1L, s/n C.4K-100 EdA, c/n 171, c/r N76GE. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 24 April 2017.
    19. Web site: Messerschmitt BF 109E-3. The Museum Of Flight. 25 January 2017.
    20. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Messerschmitt-Hispano HA-1112-M1L, s/n C.4K-122 EdA, c/n 186, c/r N109J. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 25 January 2017.
    21. Web site: MESSERSCHMITT ME-109. Erickson Aircraft Collection. 25 January 2017.
    22. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Messerschmitt-Hispano HA-1112-M1L, s/n C.4K-130 EdA, c/n 193, c/r N90602. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 24 April 2017.
    23. Web site: FAA REGISTRY [N90602]]. Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. 8 March 2017. 25 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425115608/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N90602. dead.
    24. News: Pacific Fighters 'Messerschmitt Bf-109' – Restoration Update. 31 January 2017. Warbirds News. Warbirds News. 5 March 2015.
    25. Web site: Messerschmitt/Hispano Buchon HA1112-M1L - N109BF. EAA. 8 March 2017.
    26. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Messerschmitt-Hispano HA-1112, s/n C.4K-127 EdA, c/n 199, c/r N109BF. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 25 January 2017.
    27. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Messerschmitt-Hispano HA-1112-M1L, s/n C.4K-158 EdA, c/n 211. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 25 January 2017.
    28. Web site: Aircraft. Cavanaugh Flight Museum. 25 January 2017. 5 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181205193537/https://www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=119. dead.
    29. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Messerschmitt-Hispano HA-1112, s/n C.4K-172 EdA, c/n 235, c/r N109GU. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 25 January 2017.
    30. Web site: FAA REGISTRY [N109GU]]. Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. 8 March 2017. 25 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425120642/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N109GU. dead.
    31. News: Sullivan . Cole . 1 January 2024 . Historic Addison flight museum announces closure . WFAA . Dallas, Texas . 4 January 2024.

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