The Messerschmitt Bf-109 is one of the most famous models in the entire history of aviation and also one of the most manufactured.
This aircraft made its first flight on May 29, 1935. Although it became world famous as the main German fighter of World War II, its first combat experience took place during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), where it was undoubtedly the best fighter along with the Soviet Polikarpov I-16. A total of 136 Bf-109s were sent by Germany to Spain in support of the national side.
A Bf-109 of the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War.
The Bf-109 holds the record for the most victorious fightercraft ended up in the hands of Czechoslovakia and Greece. As a curiosity, the Swiss Bf-109s were the only ones to shoot down other Bf-109s, in this case German ones, that had entered that neutral country, something that made Adolf Hitler furious. The last combat experience of this aircraft was with Israel, but this time with the Czechoslovakian Avia S-199s, during that country’s War of Independence in 1948
An Israeli Air Force Avia S-199 fighter.
In total, more than 34,000 Bf-109s were built, making it the most widely produced single-seat fighter in history. After World War II, this aircraft continued to be manufactured in Czechoslovakia (as the Avia S-99 and S-199) and in Spain (as the Hispano Aviación Ha-1109 and Ha-1112, popularly known as the “Buchón”). Few original aircraft remain today, and even fewer are airworthy.
You can see here some screenshots from this excellent video as a preview:
