Henschel Hs 127

The Henschel Hs 127 was a German twin‑engine, low‑wing bomber developed in the mid‑1930s by the engineering firm Henschel & Sohn. Conceived as a response to the Reichsluftfahrtministerium’s request for a fast, medium‑weight bomber capable of striking strategic targets on the western front, the Hs 127 first flew on 20 March 1936. Its all‑metal construction featured a streamlined fuselage, retractable main landing gear, and a glazed nose for a bombardier’s view. Powered by two Daimler‑Benz DB 601A V‑12 engines delivering 850 hp each, the aircraft could reach a top speed of roughly 470 km/h and carry up to 1 200 kg of bombs over a 1 600 km range. Despite promising performance, the Hs 127 lost the competition to the Junkers Ju 88, which offered greater payload flexibility and easier production. Consequently, only a handful of prototypes were built, and the type never entered mass service. Nevertheless, the Hs 127 contributed valuable aerodynamic and structural data that informed later Henschel projects, including the renowned Hs 129 ground‑attack aircraft, marking its modest yet noteworthy role in the evolution of German military aviation prior to World War II.