Engineering:Henschel Hs 124

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Henschel Hs 124
Henschel Hs 124 (15270032565).jpg
Role
Manufacturer Henschel & Son
First flight 1934
Primary user Luftwaffe
Number built 2

The Henschel Hs 124 was a twin-engine heavy fighter, attack aircraft and light bomber designed in Nazi Germany. After two prototypes had been built, work on the project was cancelled.

The first prototype had two liquid-cooled 12-cylinder Junkers Jumo 210A engines of 449 kW each (610 hp). It was fitted with a rotating turret with two 7.9 mm MG 15 machine guns in the nose.

The Hs 124 V2 had two 870 PS (860 hp; 640 kW) BMW 132Dc 9-cylinder radial engines and was armed with two 20 mm Mauser cannon, as well as a 7.9 mm MG 15 machine gun, carrying up to 600 kg of bombs.

The Hs 124 was Henschel's entry into the Luftwaffe's twin-engine Zerstörer (Destroyer) competition, losing to the Messerschmitt Bf 110.

Specifications (Hs 124 V2)

Henschel Hs 124 3-view drawing from L'Aerophile September 1939
Henschel Hs 124 profile

Data from Warplanes of the Third Reich,[1] Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945 Vol.3 – Flugzeugtypen Henschel-Messerschmitt[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3 (pilot, radio operator/gunner and bombardier)
  • Length: 14.5 m (47 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 18.2 m (59 ft 9 in)
  • Height: 3.75 m (12 ft 4 in)
  • Wing area: 54.6 m2 (588 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 4,250 kg (9,370 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 7,230 kg (15,939 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × BMW 132Dc 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines 870 PS (860 hp; 640 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 435 km/h (270 mph, 235 kn) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
  • Landing speed: 110 km/h (68 mph; 59 kn)
  • Range: 4,200 km (2,600 mi, 2,300 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 7,000 m (23,000 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 6,000 m (20,000 ft) in 17 minutes 30 seconds

Armament

  • Guns: 2 × 20mm Mauser cannon, 1× 7.92mm MG 15 machine guns
  • Bombs: 6× 100 kg (220 lb) bombs internally or 12× 50 kg (110 lb) bombs externally

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

  1. Green 1972, p. 384.
  2. Nowarra, Heinz J. (1993) (in German). Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945 Vol.3 – Flugzeugtypen Henschel-Messerschmitt. Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe Verlag. pp. 22-24, 260-261. ISBN 978-3-7637-5467-0. 
  • Green, William. Warplanes of the Third Reich. New York:Doubleday, 1972. ISBN:0-385-05782-2.

External links