"The non-retractable tailwheel is noted to cause -12 km/h speed loss at 0m (see Blatt 21-22). Before March 1943 all Bf 109Gs were produced with a semi-retractable tailwheel, and it was uncommon to see one with the tailwheel down, those being local, quick fixes due to conditions or hydraulical failure. Many of the factory test machines, however, often sported a non-retractable tailwheel because of their nature."