Heinkel He 74

The Heinkel He 74 was a lightweight, low‑wing monoplane developed by the German manufacturer Heinkel in the early 1930s as a prototype trainer and liaison aircraft. Drawing on the aerodynamic lessons learned from the earlier He 70 Blitz, the He 74 featured a single‑piece, all‑metal fuselage, tapered wings with leading‑edge slats, and a retractable undercarriage, giving it an unusually sleek profile for its class. Powered by a 750 hp BMW VI V‑12 engine, the aircraft could reach a maximum speed of 310 km/h and had a service ceiling of 8,500 m, making it suitable for advanced pilot instruction and high‑altitude courier duties. Only a handful of airframes were built before the program was halted in 1936 in favor of the more versatile He 115 and He 219 projects. Although the He 74 never entered mass production, its design incorporated several innovations—such as fully fair‑lined control surfaces and a semi‑monocoque construction—that later influenced Heinkel’s wartime fighters. The aircraft’s brief existence highlighted the interwar push for modern, fast trainers and underscored Heinkel’s role in advancing German aeronautical engineering during a pivotal era. Today, a single restored example is displayed at the Deutsches Museum in Munich, serving as a tangible reminder of Heinkel’s experimental spirit.

Heinkel

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification