Watch: 90 Years After Its Historic First Flight, the Legendary Bf 109 Is Honored by the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum

The First Flight That Changed Aviation

In late May 1935, on the 28th or possibly the 29th (historians still debate the exact date), the Bf 109 V1 prototype made its first flight over Haunstetten near Augsburg. Test pilot Hans-Dietrich Knoetzsch piloted the aircraft, a low-wing, all-metal monoplane with retractable landing gear, powered by a Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine. The flight lasted about twenty minutes. This marked the beginning of an aircraft design that would dominate fighter aviation for years to come.

The Bf 109 was soon ordered into production, beating out other German prototypes thanks to its superior speed, climb, and maneuverability. It went on to become one of the most produced fighter aircraft in history.

A Restored Hero Rejoins the Skies

Among the rare surviving models is a Bf 109 E-3 Emil displayed at the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum. This particular plane was shot down in 1940 during an attack near Dover. It lay hidden until its wreckage was found on a French beach in 1988. After years of careful restoration, it was returned to flying condition by 2004.

Today, the Emil rests in Hangar C, displayed alongside other historic aircraft like the Me 262. Visiting it offers a glimpse into engineering of the 1930s and wartime history in a form you can walk around—intimate and powerful. The museum is housed at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, and continues to preserve these artifacts with care and detail.

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