Heinkel HE 8

HE 8 and HE 31

National origin: Germany
Manufacturer: Heinkel
First flight: 1927
Primary user: Danish Navy
Number built: 22

The Heinkel HE 8 was a reconnaissance seaplane built in Germany in the late 1920s. It was developed at the request of the Danish Navy, which had noted the success of the HE 5 in Swedish service, and wished to purchase a similar aircraft. Apart from its new Armstrong Siddeley engine, the HE 8 also differed from the HE 5 and previous members of the HE 1 family in having a conventional empennage. 22 aircraft were operated until the German invasion in 1940, after which one example was impressed into Luftwaffe service and the remainder placed in storage.

A single HE 8 was built with a Packard 3A-2500 engine and designated HE 31.

Specifications (HE 8)

General characteristics

Crew: Two, pilot and observer
Length: 11.65 m (38 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 16.77 m (55 ft 0 in)
Height: 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 47.0 m² (506 ft²)
Empty weight: 1,675 kg (3.693 lb)
Gross weight: 2,650 kg (5,840 lb)
Powerplant: 1 x— Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar, 336 kW (450 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 210 km/h (130 mph)
Range: 1,290 km (810 miles)
Service ceiling: 5,600 m (18,373 ft)
Rate of climb: 2.8 m/s (550 ft/min)

Armament

1 x— fixed, forward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine gun
1 x— trainable, rearward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine gun
12 x— 0.5 kg (1 lb) bombs

Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 498.

Heinkel HE 8 Pictures and Heinkel HE 8 for Sale.

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia