Heinkel
Heinkel HD 24
The Heinkel HD 24 was a German‑designed, single‑engine, two‑seat biplane trainer built by Heinkel in the late 1920s. Developed from the earlier HD 22, the aircraft first flew in 1926 and was primarily intended for military pilot instruction, although several civil aeroclubs also purchased the type. Powered by a 220 hp BMW IIIa inline engine, the HD 24 featured a wooden frame covered with fabric, a staggered biplane wing arrangement, and fixed, split‑type landing gear with a tail skid. Its cockpit was open and equipped with dual control sticks, allowing instructor and student to operate the aircraft simultaneously. Production numbers were modest—about 40 examples were built—but the type saw service with the German Reichswehr, the Swedish Air Force, and the Finnish Air Force, where it helped transition pilots from World I‑era machines to more modern designs. The HD 24’s straightforward handling, reliable powerplant, and robust construction made it an effective training platform and contributed to the development of interwar German aviation expertise, laying groundwork for later Heinkel successes such as the He 70 and He 111. Its legacy endures as a stepping stone toward advanced German aeronautical engineering.
Classification
Dimensions
- Wing Area
- 50.1 square metre
- Length
- 9.69 metre
- Height
- 4.15 metre
Performance
- Service Ceiling
- 4500 metre
- Range
- 600 kilometre
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 30
- First Flight
- 1926