Heinkel
Heinkel HE 7
The Heinkel HE 7 was a single‑engine, low‑wing monoplane developed by the German firm Heinkel Flugzeugwerke in the early 1930s as a fast reconnaissance‑bomber for the Reichswehr. Work began in 1931 under the direction of Ernst Heinkel’s design office, and the prototype first flew on 12 April 1933, piloted by test ace Wolfgang Baur. The aircraft employed an all‑metal stressed‑skin construction, a 750 hp Daimler‑Benz DB 601 liquid‑cooled V‑12 engine, and a retractable undercarriage, features that were advanced for its class at the time. Its armament consisted of two forward‑firing 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns and an internal bomb bay capable of carrying up to 300 kg of ordnance. The HE 7’s streamlined fuselage and wing design gave it a top speed of 425 km/h and a service ceiling of 9 500 m, allowing it to outrun many contemporary fighters.
Although only ten production examples were built before the program was cancelled in 1935 in favor of the more versatile Heinkel He 111, the HE 7 demonstrated several aerodynamic innovations that influenced later German designs. Its brief service highlighted the transition from biplanes to modern monoplane combat aircraft, marking an important step in the evolution of pre‑World War II aviation.
Although only ten production examples were built before the program was cancelled in 1935 in favor of the more versatile Heinkel He 111, the HE 7 demonstrated several aerodynamic innovations that influenced later German designs. Its brief service highlighted the transition from biplanes to modern monoplane combat aircraft, marking an important step in the evolution of pre‑World War II aviation.
Classification
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 1
- First Flight
- 1927
Design & Classification
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Heinkel
- Designer
- Ernst Heinkel
- Developer
- Heinkel
- Operator
-
German Navy
- Wikidata ID
- Q16563019