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Heinkel He 115
The Heinkel He 115 was an all-metal twin-engined military seaplane designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Heinkel. Early on its flying history, the He 115 established several new international records for floatplanes.
The He 115 was developed during the latter half of the 1930s in response to a requirement issued by the German Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM). Heinkel opted to design a three-seat seaplane that could function as a torpedo bomber, reconnaissance aircraft and minelayer. The initial model of the aircraft, the first prototype of which performed its maiden flight in August 1937, was powered by a pair of 960 PS (947 hp, 720 kW) BMW 132K nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engines. Subsequent models varied in several respects, such as being equipped with different engines or alternative armament arrangements, increased fuel capacity or payload, and some He 115s could even accommodate an additional crew member.
The He 115 saw active combat with multiple operators, particularly during its service with the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Early on in the conflict, German He 115s frequently deployed mines within British waters. It proved itself to be a capable anti-shipping platform, particularly against Arctic supply convoys. Other nations flew the He 115, the majority being Scandinavian. The Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service operated a number that flew missions against the German invasion of Norway; several survivors escaped the occupation by flying to the UK, where they continued to be flown against the Germans until they were lost. By the twenty-first century, while a few airframes have survived, none are currently on display to the public and none are flightworthy.
The origins of the He 115 can be traced back to 1935 and the issuing of a requirement by the German Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) that called for a twin engined general purpose floatplane, suitable for maritime patrol and anti-shipping strikes with both bombs and torpedoes. Numerous aircraft manufacturers responded with their own proposals, including Heinkel Flugzeugwerke and the Blohm & Voss aircraft subsidiary Hamburger Flugzeugbau. On 1 November 1935, orders were placed with both Heinkel and Hamburger Flugzeugbau to produce three prototypes of their prospective designs, designated the He 115 and the Ha 140 respectively.
In terms of its general configuration, the He 115 was an all-metal mid-wing monoplane with a monocoque fuselage. It was equipped with a pair of floats, each of which was attached to the underside of the engine nacelles via a large strut. The twin-spar wing was built in three sections. It featured a stepped cockpit along with a rear-facing observation compartment. Initially, the He 115's armament consisted of two 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 15 machine guns, one in the nose and one in the dorsal position. On later-build He 115s, the typical armament fitted included a fixed forward-firing 15 mm or 20 mm MG 151 cannon and two rearward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17 machine guns in the engine nacelles. Furthermore, some variants carried LTF 5 or LTF 6b torpedoes and SD 500 500 kg (1,100 lb) or SC 250 250 kg (550 lb) bombs, while others carried LMB III or LMA mines.
During August 1937, the first prototype He 115 performed its maiden flight. Flight testing went relatively smoothly, the type's flight characteristics proving to be quite favourable. In early 1938, the He 115 was selected over the rival Ha 140, thus securing a second order for another prototype and 10 pre-production aircraft. According to aviation historian Hans Amtmann, Hamburger Flugzeugbau did not have enough spare manufacturing capacity for series production and declined the order, leading to Heinkel's selection instead. During March of that year, the first prototype was used to establish a series of international records for floatplanes over 1,000 km (620 mi) and 2,000 km (1,200 mi) closed circuits at a speed of 328 km/h (204 mph). Prior to these records being set, the prototype had been modified to achieve greater aerodynamic performance, such as the deletion of the angular glazed nose and the rear compartment, which were replaced by fairings.
The third and fourth prototypes including a continuous glazed canopy (between the windshield and the rear position) and angled bracing struts between the vertical struts attached to the floats respectively. In 1937, ten pre-production He 115s were completed; deliveries of production standard aircraft to the Luftwaffe commenced one year later. The He 115A-3 was the first variant to be produced in quantity, it differed from earlier models by having a revised bomb bay and radio apparatus. During 1939, the improved HE 115B-1, which featured a more than 50 percent increase in fuel capacity, was introduced.
While production came to an end during the first half of the Second World War, the He 115 was highly regarded, to the extent that production was resumed in 1943, despite an increasingly large proportion of German's aircraft manufacturing capacity being allocated to defensive fighter aircraft instead.
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Heinkel He 115
The Heinkel He 115 was an all-metal twin-engined military seaplane designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Heinkel. Early on its flying history, the He 115 established several new international records for floatplanes.
The He 115 was developed during the latter half of the 1930s in response to a requirement issued by the German Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM). Heinkel opted to design a three-seat seaplane that could function as a torpedo bomber, reconnaissance aircraft and minelayer. The initial model of the aircraft, the first prototype of which performed its maiden flight in August 1937, was powered by a pair of 960 PS (947 hp, 720 kW) BMW 132K nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engines. Subsequent models varied in several respects, such as being equipped with different engines or alternative armament arrangements, increased fuel capacity or payload, and some He 115s could even accommodate an additional crew member.
The He 115 saw active combat with multiple operators, particularly during its service with the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Early on in the conflict, German He 115s frequently deployed mines within British waters. It proved itself to be a capable anti-shipping platform, particularly against Arctic supply convoys. Other nations flew the He 115, the majority being Scandinavian. The Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service operated a number that flew missions against the German invasion of Norway; several survivors escaped the occupation by flying to the UK, where they continued to be flown against the Germans until they were lost. By the twenty-first century, while a few airframes have survived, none are currently on display to the public and none are flightworthy.
The origins of the He 115 can be traced back to 1935 and the issuing of a requirement by the German Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) that called for a twin engined general purpose floatplane, suitable for maritime patrol and anti-shipping strikes with both bombs and torpedoes. Numerous aircraft manufacturers responded with their own proposals, including Heinkel Flugzeugwerke and the Blohm & Voss aircraft subsidiary Hamburger Flugzeugbau. On 1 November 1935, orders were placed with both Heinkel and Hamburger Flugzeugbau to produce three prototypes of their prospective designs, designated the He 115 and the Ha 140 respectively.
In terms of its general configuration, the He 115 was an all-metal mid-wing monoplane with a monocoque fuselage. It was equipped with a pair of floats, each of which was attached to the underside of the engine nacelles via a large strut. The twin-spar wing was built in three sections. It featured a stepped cockpit along with a rear-facing observation compartment. Initially, the He 115's armament consisted of two 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 15 machine guns, one in the nose and one in the dorsal position. On later-build He 115s, the typical armament fitted included a fixed forward-firing 15 mm or 20 mm MG 151 cannon and two rearward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17 machine guns in the engine nacelles. Furthermore, some variants carried LTF 5 or LTF 6b torpedoes and SD 500 500 kg (1,100 lb) or SC 250 250 kg (550 lb) bombs, while others carried LMB III or LMA mines.
During August 1937, the first prototype He 115 performed its maiden flight. Flight testing went relatively smoothly, the type's flight characteristics proving to be quite favourable. In early 1938, the He 115 was selected over the rival Ha 140, thus securing a second order for another prototype and 10 pre-production aircraft. According to aviation historian Hans Amtmann, Hamburger Flugzeugbau did not have enough spare manufacturing capacity for series production and declined the order, leading to Heinkel's selection instead. During March of that year, the first prototype was used to establish a series of international records for floatplanes over 1,000 km (620 mi) and 2,000 km (1,200 mi) closed circuits at a speed of 328 km/h (204 mph). Prior to these records being set, the prototype had been modified to achieve greater aerodynamic performance, such as the deletion of the angular glazed nose and the rear compartment, which were replaced by fairings.
The third and fourth prototypes including a continuous glazed canopy (between the windshield and the rear position) and angled bracing struts between the vertical struts attached to the floats respectively. In 1937, ten pre-production He 115s were completed; deliveries of production standard aircraft to the Luftwaffe commenced one year later. The He 115A-3 was the first variant to be produced in quantity, it differed from earlier models by having a revised bomb bay and radio apparatus. During 1939, the improved HE 115B-1, which featured a more than 50 percent increase in fuel capacity, was introduced.
While production came to an end during the first half of the Second World War, the He 115 was highly regarded, to the extent that production was resumed in 1943, despite an increasingly large proportion of German's aircraft manufacturing capacity being allocated to defensive fighter aircraft instead.
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