My mate Chris said .......
The BF 109 had a narrow track undercarriage like the Spitfire, but less
> good visibility from
> the cockpit. I understand from reading German pilots' reminiscences that
> landing accidents were indeed responsible for costly losses of aircraft > and
> inexperienced pilots.
>
> More recently, the last previous flying example of a DB605 engined Bf109
> famously came to grief after what must count as a truly outstanding piece > of
> airmanship on the part of the pilot following an engine failure at Duxford > a
> few years ago.
>
> Caught out by engine failure on the downwind leg over the airfield at low
> level, he nevertheless managed to turn into the wind and touch down on the
> runway, but with insufficient runway length left to bring the aircraft to > a
> halt. He therefore "floated" the '109 over the M11 motorway and touched > down
> in the field the other side. All would have been well had the farmer not
> ploughed the far side of the field, and as it rolled to a halt it just ran
> off the firm, unploughed area. The undercarriage dug into the soft ground
> and the aircraft flipped onto its back, trapping the pilot, but > fortunately
> didn't catch fire so he was rescued pretty much unhurt. The aircraft > suffered
> serious damage but has been restored to static display condition.