Messerschmitt started also the development of a radial engined Bf109. Thus a version using the BMW 139 was developed. In 1938 the V-21, used for the development of the E-series was modified to take a BMW 139 engine, a copy of the P-W Twin Wasp. A new forward fuselage was designed from frame no.6 forwards, enabling the fitting of the radial engine. A new full vision "bubble" canopy was fitted. The aircraft flew in 1939.
The second radial engined 109 was a modified F-1 airframe, fitted with a fuselage similar to the V-21 with the BMW 139 engine. The Me-109X used the BMW 801 however. The aircraft flew in September 1940 and was tested by the RLM. The RLM decided however that the FW-190 was performing well and that there was no need for a similar powered fighter. Therefore the program was ended in 1941.
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