Heinkel
He 51B
The Heinkel He 51B was a single‑seat biplane fighter produced by the German manufacturer Heinkel in the early 1930s, representing the final evolution of the He 51 series. First flown in 1934, the B model incorporated a more powerful BMW VIIa 12‑cylinder radial engine delivering roughly 750 hp, a reinforced welded‑steel fuselage, and upgraded armament of two 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns mounted in the upper wings. Its streamlined wooden‑covered wings and improved ailerons gave better maneuverability, while the hydraulic brakes and revised fuel system extended operational range to about 700 km.
Historically, the He 51B saw extensive combat during the Spanish Civil War, where it initially outperformed older Republican aircraft but quickly became vulnerable to newer Soviet‑supplied monoplane fighters such as the Polikarpov I‑15 and I‑16. The aircraft’s service with the nascent Luftwaffe provided valuable lessons in pilot training, aerial tactics, and the limitations of biplane designs, prompting Germany’s rapid shift to all‑metal monoplanes like the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Consequently, the He 51B occupies a pivotal place in aviation history as a bridge between World‑War‑I‑style fighters and the modern, high‑speed warplanes that dominated the later 1930s and World War II.
Historically, the He 51B saw extensive combat during the Spanish Civil War, where it initially outperformed older Republican aircraft but quickly became vulnerable to newer Soviet‑supplied monoplane fighters such as the Polikarpov I‑15 and I‑16. The aircraft’s service with the nascent Luftwaffe provided valuable lessons in pilot training, aerial tactics, and the limitations of biplane designs, prompting Germany’s rapid shift to all‑metal monoplanes like the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Consequently, the He 51B occupies a pivotal place in aviation history as a bridge between World‑War‑I‑style fighters and the modern, high‑speed warplanes that dominated the later 1930s and World War II.
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Classification
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 450
Design & Classification
- Primary Use
- Manufacturer
- Heinkel
- Wikidata ID
- Q18560316