HD 41

The Heinkel HD 41 was a German advanced trainer and light reconnaissance aircraft developed in the early 1930s. Originating from Heinkel’s Versuchsbau series, the HD 41 first flew in 1932 and served as a stepping‑stone for the later He 45 and He 46 bombers. Powered by a 750 hp BMW VI V‑12 liquid‑cooled engine, the single‑seat, low‑wing monoplane featured an all‑metal semi‑monocoque fuselage, tapered wings with Handley‑Page leading‑edge slats and split‑type flaps, and a fixed, spatted undercarriage. Its cockpit was equipped with dual‑instrumentation for pilot training and a forward‑firing synchronized MG 15 machine gun for basic combat drills. The aircraft’s relatively high wing loading and responsive controls gave trainee pilots experience with the handling characteristics of contemporary combat types. Although only a small batch of ten units was produced, the HD 41’s design philosophy influenced Heinkel’s subsequent multi‑role aircraft and contributed to the Luftwaffe’s rapid expansion in the mid‑1930s. Today, the HD 41 is remembered as an important transitional model that helped bridge the gap between early biplane trainers and the more powerful monoplanes that dominated World War II. Its legacy endures in museums and historical studies of pre‑war German aeronautics.

Heinkel

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification