Heinkel He 42

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He 42

One of the first Heinkel He 42s during tests at Travemünde.

Type Maritime trainer
Manufacturer Heinkel
Maiden flight 1929
Primary user Luftwaffe

The Heinkel HD 42 50, later designated the Heinkel He 42 was a German two-seated biplane seaplane originally designed for the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegschule, and later built for the German Luftwaffe. The aircraft was used up until the end of World War 2 as a trainer for maritime pilots.

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[edit] Design and development

In 1929, Heinkel developed a biplane, the HD 42, for use with the covert military-training orgnaization Deutsche Verkehrsfliegschule (DVS). Its fuselage was constructed out of a welded steel tube truss and had a rectangular cross-section with a rounded top. The engine covers were made out of light-weight metal, while the rest of the fuselage was covered in fabric. The aircraft was equipped with floats.

The HD 42 model received good feedback from the Swedish Navy, who had purchased the aircraft, as well as from the famous pilot Gunther Plüschow (who was the first airman to fly over the Patagonian mountains of Chile and Argentina at Tierra del Fuego). The prototype was equipped with a BMW Va engine, but the later versions came with a Junkers L5G engine.

Ten aircraft had been manufactured by 1932, when a new version, the He 42C was rolled out. Series production began with the He 42D model (14 manufactured) which were intended for the German Air Force, which at the time was illegal. A further 189 He 42Es were built in 1934 and these aircraft were used by various flying schools until the end of WW2

[edit] Variants

HD 42
Prototype aircraft
He 42C
He 42D
First series produced model, 14 built
He 42E
Second series produced model, 189 built

[edit] Operators

Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria
Flag of Germany Germany
Flag of Sweden Sweden

[edit] Specifications (He 42)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 10.5 m ()
  • Wingspan: 14 m/13 m ()
  • Height: 4.5 m ()
  • Wing area: 56.03 m² ()
  • Empty weight: 1,550 kg ()
  • Loaded weight: 2,150 kg ()

Performance


[edit] References

Notes
Bibliography

[edit] See also

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