Heinkel
HE 4
The Heinkel HE 4 was a single‑engine, two‑seat biplane floatplane produced by Heinkel Flugzeugwerke in the early 1920s as the company’s first post‑war venture into naval aviation. Conceived under the constraints of the Versailles Treaty, the HE 4 was built for the Reichsmarine’s limited seaplane squadron and first flew in 1922. Powered by a 220 hp BMW IV inline engine, it drove a two‑bladed propeller and delivered a maximum speed of about 170 km/h (106 mph) with a service ceiling near 4 500 m. Its wooden wings were braced with steel struts, and the fuselage featured a streamlined metal frame covered in fabric, while the twin floats were of aluminum alloy, providing good seaworthiness and easy handling on water.
The aircraft could carry a modest bomb load of up to 200 kg or a small camera for reconnaissance missions, and it was also employed as a trainer for naval pilots. Although only a few dozen were built, the HE 4 proved valuable in demonstrating Heinkel’s ability to design reliable amphibious aircraft despite diplomatic restrictions. The experience gained with its mixed construction, float design, and power‑plant integration directly influenced later, more famous Heinkel types such as the He 70 “Blitz” and the He 111 bomber, cementing the HE 4’s place as a stepping stone in German interwar aviation development.
The aircraft could carry a modest bomb load of up to 200 kg or a small camera for reconnaissance missions, and it was also employed as a trainer for naval pilots. Although only a few dozen were built, the HE 4 proved valuable in demonstrating Heinkel’s ability to design reliable amphibious aircraft despite diplomatic restrictions. The experience gained with its mixed construction, float design, and power‑plant integration directly influenced later, more famous Heinkel types such as the He 70 “Blitz” and the He 111 bomber, cementing the HE 4’s place as a stepping stone in German interwar aviation development.
Classification
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 7
- First Flight
- 1926
Design & Classification
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Heinkel
- Designer
- Ernst Heinkel
- Developer
- Heinkel
- Operator
-
Latvian Naval Forces Swedish Navy Latvian Air Force
- Wikidata ID
- Q18450827