[caldrail]

The Me-209 was a record-setting single-engine race plane for which little or no consideration was given to adaptation for combat. The second, the Me 209-II, was a proposal for a new development from the lineage that produced the highly successful Bf 109 that served as the Luftwaffe's primary fighter throughout World War II.

Powerplant: 1× Daimler-Benz DB 601 ARJ, 1,342 kW (1,800 hp)

Maximum speed: 756 km/h (469 mph)


+1!

The original 209 was intended from the outset as a record breaker rather than a racer per se, the idea being a propaganda coup for Germany as the aircraft was named 109R in press releases.

As an aeroplane it was a nasty little handful. The test pilot reported a whole list of technical and handling defects.

http://www.air-racing-history.com/aircr ... %20209.htm