Heinkel He 71

The Heinkel He 71 was a small, low‑powered German sport aircraft built by Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke in the early 1930s. Designed as a two‑seat, low‑wing monoplane, it was essentially a scaled‑down version of the successful He 64, intended for private pilots and flying clubs that wanted an affordable yet aerodynamic trainer. Only two prototypes were constructed, the V1 (registration D‑17) and the V2, both powered by a 25 kW (34 hp) Haacke HFM 2 air‑cooled flat‑twin engine. The aircraft featured an all‑metal fuselage with a smooth, rounded nose, wooden wings covered with plywood, and a fixed, spatted undercarriage that reduced drag. Its handling was praised for being nimble and responsive, making it suitable for aerobatics despite the modest power output. Although the He 71 never entered series production, it demonstrated Heinkel’s ability to combine lightweight construction with clean aerodynamics, influencing later designs such as the He 70 “Blitz” and contributing to the development of sport aviation in Germany before the rise of military aircraft production. The He 71 remains a rare example of interwar innovation in civilian aviation. Today a restored example is displayed at the Deutsches Museum in Munich, where it serves as a tangible reminder of the era's experimental spirit.

Heinkel

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