Heinkel He 72
He 72 Kadett | |
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Role | Military basic trainer |
Manufacturer | Heinkel Flugzeugwerke |
First flight | 1933 |
Status | out of service |
Primary users | Luftwaffe National Socialist Flyers Corps Slovenské vzdušné zbrane |
Number built | Several thousand [1] |
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The Heinkel He 72 Kadett ("Cadet") was a German single-engine biplane trainer of the 1930s.
Development
The Kadett was designed in 1933 to meet an official requirement for a basic trainer. It was a single-bay biplane of fabric-covered, metal construction with open cockpits, a staggered wing, a strut-braced tail unit, and fixed tailskid undercarriage. The prototype was powered by a 104 kW (139 hp) Argus As 8B air-cooled inline engine.[2]
The first production model, the He 72A retained the As 8B engine in early batches, but later production aircraft had a 112 kW (150 hp) As 8R. The He 72A was superseded by the He 72B, which was the major production version. This was powered by a 120 kW (160 bhp) Siemens-Halske Sh 14A radial.[2]
The He 72B was produced as the He 72B-1 landplane and He 72BW Seekadett ("Sea Cadet") twin-float seaplane. The civil development was the He 72B-3 Edelkadett ("Noble Cadet").[2]
Operational history
The Kadett entered service with National Socialist Flyers Corps before the formation of the Luftwaffe. Later, it became a standard basic trainer with the Luftwaffe. Slovak forces used it in the attack role.[2]
Variants
- He 72A Kadett : Initial production version.
- He 72B :
- He 72B-1 :
- He 72B-3 Edelkadett : Civil adaptation of He 72B-1. 30 built.
- He 72BW Seekadett : Twin-float seaplane. Prototype only.
- He 172 - He 72B with NACA cowling. Prototype only in 1934.
Operators
- Czechoslovakian Air Force (Postwar)
- Imperial Japanese Navy - one aircraft
Specifications (He 72B-1)
Data from "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" [3]
General characteristics
- Crew: Two
- Length: 7.50 m (24 ft 7¼ in)
- Wingspan: 9.00 m (29 ft 6¼ in)
- Height: 2.70 m (8 ft 10¼ in)
- Wing area: 20.70 m² (222.82 ft²)
- Empty weight: 540 kg (1,191 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 865 kg (1,907 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × BMW-Bramo Siemens-Halske Sh 14A 7-cylinder radial engine, 119 kW (160 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 185 km/h (100 kn, 115 mph)
- Cruise speed: 170 km/h (92 kn, 106 mph)
- Range: 475 km (256 nmi, 295 mi)
- Service ceiling: 3,500 m (11,485 ft)
- Rate of climb: 3 m/s (591 ft/min)
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heinkel He 72. |
- Wood, Tony and Bill Gunston. Hitler's Luftwaffe: A Pictorial History and Technical Encyclopedia of Hitler's Air Power in World War II. London:Salamander books,1977. ISBN 0-86101-005-1.
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