Heinkel He 51

The Heinkel He 51 was a German biplane fighter developed by Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke in the early 1930s. First flown in 1933, it entered service with the Luftwaffe in 1934 as the Reichsluftfahrtministerium's initial single‑engine combat aircraft. The He 51 featured a mixed construction of steel tube fuselage and wooden wings, covered with fabric, and was powered by a 750 hp (560 kW) BMW VI V12 engine that gave a top speed of about 360 km/h (224 mph). Its armament typically comprised two 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns mounted in the upper wing, and later versions could carry small bombs for ground‑attack missions. Although quickly outclassed by more modern monoplane fighters such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the He 51 saw extensive action during the Spanish Civil War, where it proved effective in the early stages of air combat and in close‑support roles. The aircraft’s service highlighted the transition from biplane to monoplane designs and provided valuable combat experience that influenced German tactical doctrine leading up to World War II. After being relegated to training duties, the He 51 remained in use until the early 1940s period.

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