Heinkel
He 51B-2
The Heinkel He 51B‑2 was the final production version of Germany’s first indigenous monoplane fighter, entering service in 1935. Developed from the earlier He 51A, the B‑2 incorporated a more powerful Daimler‑Benz DB 600Aa engine delivering 750 hp, which raised the maximum speed to 470 km/h and improved climb performance. The aircraft featured a metal‑covered fuselage with fabric‑covered wings, a fixed spatted undercarriage, and a closed cockpit equipped with basic instrumentation and a radio set. Armament consisted of two 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns synchronized to fire through the propeller arc, and provisions for small bombs for ground‑attack missions.
Although initially intended as a front‑line fighter, the He 51B‑2 quickly became obsolete after encounters with more advanced Soviet Polikarpov I‑16s during the Spanish Civil War and later the Polish Campaign. Nevertheless, it proved valuable as a trainer and for close‑support roles, shaping Luftwaffe tactics in the early 1930s. Its development marked a transition from biplane to monoplane designs in German aviation and laid the groundwork for later successful fighters such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Approximately 800 He 51s were built; the type stayed in secondary service until 1940, giving pilots combat experience that shaped later designs.
Although initially intended as a front‑line fighter, the He 51B‑2 quickly became obsolete after encounters with more advanced Soviet Polikarpov I‑16s during the Spanish Civil War and later the Polish Campaign. Nevertheless, it proved valuable as a trainer and for close‑support roles, shaping Luftwaffe tactics in the early 1930s. Its development marked a transition from biplane to monoplane designs in German aviation and laid the groundwork for later successful fighters such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Approximately 800 He 51s were built; the type stayed in secondary service until 1940, giving pilots combat experience that shaped later designs.
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Classification
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 46
Design & Classification
- Primary Use
- Manufacturer
- Heinkel
- Wikidata ID
- Q18560354