Crossing the Alps in an old Messerschmitt

[bernd1151 5,854]

This is a flight I wanted to do for the longest time. It takes a bit of careful planning, because the plane I had in mind is not what you think this Messerschmitt is all about. It’s not the beefy Bf109, it is the older civilian Bf108, which means that its Argus AS 10C engine gave us at around 1880 rpm some 200 hp. We have given our old lady the name “Elly” after Elly Beinhorn, who made some amazing trips around the world with this plane in the mid-1930s.

 

Yesterday I finally did it. Gosh, it was fun.

 

We take off from Friedrichshafen on the German side of the Bodensee, or as it is known otherwise: Lake Constance and plan to fly across Switzerland to Locarno, located at the North Italian Lago Maggiore.

 

As one can see, global warming provides us with springtime temperatures close to Christmas. There should be snow around here at this time of the year

 

Even on the Swiss side of the lake

 

But that changed as soon as we got closer to the mountains

 

 

We were soon able to enjoy spectacular scenery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting close to Locarno

 

 

 

Great job Elly, my good old girl. I love you

 

Scenery: Switzerland Professional, Freeware Italy

Plane: Bf108 from Classics-Hangar

[HLJames 2,568]

Love that flight through the Alps....outstanding work!

 

HLJAMES

[A320FAN 370]

Amazing shots!

[edetroit 933]

What a lovely flight.....in an interesting aircraft! Thank you for sharing. :Applause:

[bernd1151 5,854]

Thank you very much, gents

[HaraldG 559]

Bernd, this was surely your flight of the year. Thanks for posting and a heartily "Horrido" from the Messerschmitt Friends of Dresden!

Can you specify your way over (or through) the Alps? Some pictures look like Passo San Bernardino... others like Lucmagn..., I'm not sure...

[bernd1151 5,854]

Hi Harald, thanks, I had a similar feeling. This was something special. I knew that you would like it  :wink:

 

Here is the map with my flight route. The airplane I use in this map-shot is not the Bf108. I never flew that fast, hehehe. This was the Noratlas, the first airplane I ever flew in the real world in the Luftwaffe in 1971

 

 

 

Frohe Weihnachten,

 

Bernd

[HaraldG 559]

Thanks Bernd! Und frohe Weihnachten auch für Dich!

So you made it over the Julier- and Malojapass and then over the ridge... My compliments!

[JAT 185]

Beautiful shots.

 

nebojsa

[Pugilist2 878]

Super nice looking shots! Enjoyed the beautiful Alps.