Heinkel
Heinkel HD 14
The Heinkel HD 14 was a German heavy transport seaplane developed in the mid‑1920s as part of Ernst Heinkel’s effort to re‑establish an aircraft industry after the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty. Conceived in 1924 and built at the Heinkel‑Stettin works, the HD 14 featured a high‑wing, wooden‑frame construction with a fabric‑covered fuselage and twin floats mounted beneath the wings. Power was supplied by two 500 hp Mercedes D.IIIa inline engines mounted on the wing leading edges, driving two‑bladed wooden propellers. The aircraft could carry up to 1 800 kg of cargo or ten troops, and its large wing area provided the lift needed for water‑borne take‑offs and landings in relatively calm seas.
Only a single prototype was completed; flight testing in 1926 revealed handling quirks and insufficient range for the long‑distance routes envisioned by the German Navy and prospective foreign customers. Although the HD 14 never entered series production, its design experience informed later Heinkel amphibians such as the He 114 and contributed to the company’s expertise in high‑wing, multi‑engine layouts. The aircraft therefore occupies a modest but pivotal place in the evolution of European maritime aviation during the interwar period.
Only a single prototype was completed; flight testing in 1926 revealed handling quirks and insufficient range for the long‑distance routes envisioned by the German Navy and prospective foreign customers. Although the HD 14 never entered series production, its design experience informed later Heinkel amphibians such as the He 114 and contributed to the company’s expertise in high‑wing, multi‑engine layouts. The aircraft therefore occupies a modest but pivotal place in the evolution of European maritime aviation during the interwar period.
Classification
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 1
- First Flight
- 1925
Design & Classification
- Manufacturer
- Heinkel
- Engine
- Fiat A.14
- Wikidata ID
- Q16562994