Henschel Hs 121

Henschel & Son

Company type	Private company
Industry	Locomotive manufacturing, trucks, buses, aircraft manufacturing
Founded	1933 (aviation division)
Headquarters	Kassel, Schönefeld (aviation division) , Germany
Products	Locomotives, trucks, buses, aircraft

The Henschel Hs 121 represented the inaugural aircraft constructed by the German firm Henschel. It featured a high-wing monoplane configuration, equipped with an inline engine, a fixed landing gear, and a single open cockpit. This model was intended as an advanced trainer. Only one unit was completed during 1933–34, serving as a prototype for evaluation by the Air Ministry.

Development

Originally recognized for manufacturing locomotives, Henschel & Son of Kassel expanded their production to include trucks and buses. In 1933, they established an aviation division headquartered at Schönefeld, with an additional facility at Johannisthal. New aircraft producers aiming to supply the Luftwaffe were required to develop a demonstration aircraft, known as a testpiece or Befähigungsnachweis, to validate their capabilities; the Hs 121 fulfilled this requirement for Henschel.

The design was a high-wing braced monoplane featuring gull wing roots that improved the pilot’s forward visibility from the open cockpit positioned well behind the wing’s trailing edge. The wing structure consisted of two metal spars, with metal sheathing on the leading edges and fabric covering the remainder. Robust bracing extended from near mid-wing down to the lower fuselage, continuing inward toward the gull wing’s shoulder. The oval-shaped fuselage utilized a metal frame and metal skinning. The tail assembly also employed metal framework, with metal covering on the fin and tailplane, while control surfaces were fabric-covered. Wire bracing connected the fin and tailplane. The main wheels were enclosed in spats and mounted on streamlined struts that angled outward from the lower fuselage to widen the track.

The aircraft was powered by a 180 kW (240 hp) Argus As 10C inverted inline engine.

Its maiden flight took place at Johannisthal on 4 January 1934. Following initial flight testing, several adjustments were implemented: additional bracing was added to the fin, the tailplane was enlarged, and further reinforcement was installed between the landing gear and fuselage. Ultimately, only one Hs 121 was constructed.

Specifications

File:Henschel Hs 121 3-view L'Aerophile September 1939.jpg

Three-view illustration of the Henschel Hs 121 from L'Aerophile, September 1939

References

Sources cited

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