Heinkel HE 9

The Heinkel HE 9 was a German single‑engine, low‑wing monoplane developed in the late 1920s as a sport and training aircraft for both civilian pilots and military clubs. Designed by the Heinkel Flugzeugwerke under Ernst Heinkel’s direction, the HE 9 first flew in 1929 and entered limited production the following year. Its airframe combined a wooden wing with a fabric‑covered steel tube fuselage, providing a lightweight yet robust structure. Powered by a 120 hp Argus As 8 four‑cylinder inverted inline engine, the aircraft achieved a top speed of about 170 km/h (105 mph) and a service ceiling of 5,500 m, offering respectable performance for its class. The cockpit was open and accommodated two seats in tandem, allowing an instructor and pupil to train side by side. Although only a few dozen units were built, the HE 9 played an important role in the interwar period by giving German pilots valuable flight experience while circumventing the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles. Its straightforward design and reliable handling helped shape Heinkel’s later successful fighter and transport programs, marking the HE 9 as a modest but influential step in German aviation development.

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