Heinkel He 49

He 49
Role Fighter
Manufacturer Heinkel
Designer Günter brothers
First flight November 1932
Primary user Luftwaffe
Number built 4
Variants Heinkel He 51

The Heinkel He 49 was a German single-bay, single-seat biplane of mixed construction armed with two machine guns. Four designs were made, the He 49a, He 49b, He 49c, and the He 51 which went on to become a Luftwaffe fighter.

Production history

The first prototype, the He 49a, was flown in November 1932, and the second prototype, the He 49b, followed in February 1933, with a modified fuselage to make it 40 cm (16 in) longer. This was later turned into a floatplane, the He 49bW, and the third prototype, the He 49c, had a different engine. The He 49d went on to become the He 51, a fighter used during the Spanish Civil War which continued in service as an advanced trainer and ground-attack aircraft into the early years of World War II.

Operational history

All variants - apart from the He 51 - were just prototypes, and were never deployed.

Specifications (Heinkel He 49b)

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Length: 8.24 m (27 ft 0⅓ in)
  • Wingspan: 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
  • Height: ()
  • Wing area: 27.20 m² (292.79 ft²)
  • Loaded weight: 1,950 kg (4,299 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × BMW VI 6.0 twelve cylinder water-cooled engine, 515 kW (690 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 325 km/h (202 mph) 302 km/h at 3,500 m (188 mph at 11,485 ft)
  • Time to 1,000 m: 1.65 minutes

Armament

  • Guns: 2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine guns

Bibliography

  • William Green and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. Colour Library Direct, Godalming, UK: 1994. ISBN 1-85833-777-1.
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