Bf 109 Z-1: Two Messerschmitts, One Pilot

Two fuselages, two engines, one pilot — the most unusual "Messer" in history is arriving in Aces of Thunder. The experimental Bf 109 Z-1 "Zwilling" will appear in the game in one of the upcoming updates as a separate DLC!

One Aircraft Made of Two

The Zwilling (German for "twin") was born from a simple yet daring idea: the Luftwaffe urgently needed a heavy fighter, but there was no time to set up production of an entirely new machine. The solution? Take two Bf 109 fuselages, join them with a new center wing section and a shared stabilizer — and there you have a heavy fighter, built from parts the factories had already mastered. The pilot sat in the left cockpit, while the right one was paneled over. The only prototype ever built was damaged in an Allied raid on the Augsburg plant and never took to the air. Now you have the chance to take to the skies in its stead.

The Bf 109 Z-1 in Battle

This isn't just two "Messers" — it's an entirely different aircraft: heavy, fast in a straight line, with an excellent performance in the vertical, but noticeably less maneuverable than the classic Bf 109. Dogfighting, while possible, is not ideal for this variant. Your tactics are energy and the vertical: climb high, strike down at your targed, extend away at speed, and set up another pass.

As for armament: four 30 mm MK 108 cannons. The punch is devastating — a couple of accurate hits will finish off almost any target. But the ammo supply is modest, so make every burst count: get in close, line up on your target, and make every pass count. For ground strikes, a 250 kg SC250JA bomb or a Flam C 250 incendiary bomb can be mounted under the center wing section. A nice bonus for some attack runs along the way!

And keep the design quirk in mind: visibility to the right is limited — that's where the second fuselage is. Check that direction in advance. Or better yet, position yourself in such a way so that the enemy never ends up on that side.

In the Spotlight: The Cockpit

The Zwilling's pilot sits not in the center, but in the left fuselage. It's an unusual seating position that feels especially striking in VR: the second fuselage stretches out beyond the glazing to your right. Like other aircraft in Aces of Thunder, the Z-1 can be controlled in VR with your own hands: interact with the stick, throttle, flaps, landing gear, radiator, and trim. There's also a handy ammo counter in the cockpit. Given the relatively low ammo supply, it's worth glancing at it often.

In addition to the standard livery, the Bf 109 Z-1 comes with a high-altitude camouflage — unlocked immediately once you pick up the DLC.

See you in the skies!