Heinkel HD 28

The Heinkel HD 28 was a two‑seat, single‑engine biplane developed by Ernst Heinkel’s company in the mid‑1920s as part of Germany’s covert re‑armament programme after World War I. First flown in 1925, the aircraft was intended for short‑range reconnaissance and artillery‑observation duties, roles that required good low‑altitude handling and clear visibility for the observer. Power came from a 450 hp Siemens‑Junkers L III water‑cooled V‑12 engine driving a two‑bladed propeller, while the mixed construction—steel tube fuselage with fabric‑covered wooden wings—kept weight low and maintenance simple. An open cockpit for the pilot and a slightly aft, glazed observer’s station offered a combined field of view of more than 180 degrees.

Only a handful of HD 28s were built; most served with the clandestine training units of the Reichswehr and later with the nascent Luftwaffe as advanced trainers and liaison aircraft. The type’s straightforward design, reliable powerplant, and adaptable airframe made it a useful stepping‑stone for later Heinkel reconnaissance models such as the He 70 series. Though its operational life was brief, the HD 28 demonstrated Heinkel’s ability to produce versatile military aircraft under the restrictive conditions of the Versailles Treaty, influencing German aeronautical development throughout the interwar period.

Heinkel

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