The Brazilien Messerschmitt Project is focused in the construction of a full-size replica (one-to-one scale) of a Messerschmitt Me-109 G-2, as built in 1942.

It will be a replica for static display only, as usually is done with aircraft restored to be displayed at museums.

It will be replicated all the constructive characteristics of the original airplane, like the aluminum structure, control surfaces, internal systems, instruments and engine. Simpler systems, like the control surfaces, will work like the original. More complex equipment, whose integral and functional reproduction could be very complicated and costly - like instruments, propeller and engine, will be reproduced only in its external form, as a mock-up.

The main reason for not build a flying replica is because there are no Daimler-Benz engines available anymore. Despite the fact the making of one of those engines be a “technical possibility”, the cost for that is prohibitive for a poor Brazilian enthusiast.

On the other hand, due to the unique design of the DB engines (mostly its “inverted” configuration), the adaptation of any other engine will result in drastic modifications in the replica's airframe and will ruin all the “museum quality” accuracy I pursuit.

Therefore, I opted for build a static replica only, which will permit the utilization non-functional (but realistic) reproductions for the majority of the original components – the engine inclusive.

As previously explained in the “History” section, the Brazilien Messerschmitt Project began in 1997 just as a personal project and without support of any sort. Considering also the inherent difficulties of carrying on a project like this in a country without tradition in this area, everything contributed to delay the development of the work.

As the project considers the building of the most accurate replica as possible, the first step was to perform a wide research, aiming to get all the necessary technical information about the construction of the plane. As here in Brazil, with the exception of usual books and magazines, there were no research sources for this kind of information, the work became “profitable” just after 1999, with the advent of the Internet.

In that aspect, one of the big advantages of the Internet - beyond the “traditional” sources of research (museums, libraries, etc.), is the endless number of sites specialized in aviation, where is possible to find everything - from technical manuals to original pieces (everything outside Brazil, obviously). Another very good advantage is the possibility of making the so called “virtual friendships”, with persons and entities around the world, mostly of which is always prompted to help.

By the end of 1999, the informative stuff I had obtained already showed clearly that for the desired precision I intended for the replica it would be indispensable to obtain copies of the original production drawings (the so called “blueprints”).

Those drawings do exist today almost by miracle, because they had been sent to Spain during the War and, at present, they are being preserved at the Flugzeug Union Sud (FUS), the preservation institute of the own Messerschmitt (EADS, at present), in Germany.

The only problem on get the copies (besides the money for) is because FUS do not “trade” the drawings with anyone, but only with companies or organizations with they have some relationship. That way, I spent about five years in the attempt, until I finally obtained the liberation in the beginning of 2005!

Today, I understand the worries of FUS/EADS regarding their politics of distribution of the drawings and agree with it, because they are a too valuable historical information to be handled as a merely “commercial” item.

In the meanwhile (1999 to 2005), even in the lack of the original drawings from FUS, I had obtained enough information that permitted to begin the “re-design” work in computer graphics (CAD) of the fuselage, in order to make easy the construction phase.

In the middle 2002, the re-design work had advanced enough to make possible the design and build of an assemblage jig for the fuselage, which could allow the beginning of the construction phase.

But, due to a number of factors - mostly the lack of financial conditions - the beginning of the construction was postponed several times, being resumed only in the beginning of 2004, when I decided to incorporate the Brazilien Messerschmitt Project to the other aeronautic projects I was developing in my engineering firm, the Lane Design.

I expected that decision could permit the destination of more efforts to the project and, also, the participation of Lane Design partners - or even sponsors - in the project.

With the arrival of the original blueprints, in April of 2005, the redesign works in CAD was resumed, now with the guarantee of 100% of accuracy to the original project.

Now it will be also possible to perform the construction work in parallel with the redesign work, what must speed the course of the project.

In the same way, with the authorization of the EADS, I am also planning to manufacture reproductions of parts and components of the Me-109, for collectors and museums worldwide, as a form of help in the financing of the construction of the replica itself and other cultural projects I have planned.

I am also keeping the commitment I assumed in the beginning of the project, in 1997, once finalized the replica, it will be donated to the Aerospace Museum of my hometown - for the creation of which I am still battling.

Thank you again for your visit and don’t hesitate on contact me for additional information or any comments.

Lauro Ney Batista
Brazilien Messerschmitt Project owner

updated in August 08, 2005

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