Henschel Hs 127
| Industry | Aerospace, Defense |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1810 |
| Headquarters | Kassel , Germany |
| Products | Aircraft (including Henschel Hs 127) |
The Henschel Hs 127 was a German tactical bomber developed as two experimental units but never advanced to full-scale production.
Design and development
In 1935, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM), Germany’s Ministry of Aviation, issued a requirement for a high-speed tactical bomber. The design competition included submissions from Junkers, Focke-Wulf, Messerschmitt, and Henschel.
The RLM specified that the aircraft should sustain a velocity of 500 km/h (313 mph) for at least half an hour, achieve an altitude of 20 m (65 ft) within a maximum takeoff distance of 750 m (2,460 ft), and be armed with one defensive machine gun alongside a bomb load ranging from 500 to 800 kg (1,100 to 1,760 lb). The crew complement was set at three: a pilot, a navigator/bombardier, and a gunner.
Focke-Wulf withdrew early from the contest, leaving three contenders: the Hs 127, Junkers Ju 88, and Messerschmitt Bf 162. Prototypes were commissioned for each design, all fitted with the new Daimler-Benz DB 600 engines.
The Hs 127 V1 completed its initial flight late in 1937. Compared to the Ju 88, it was smaller and lighter while achieving an impressive maximum speed of 565 km/h (353 mph). Nevertheless, the Ju 88 was favored due to its superior bomb-carrying capacity.
By May 1938, the RLM terminated the Hs 127 project, halting construction before the third prototype could be finalized.
Structurally, the Hs 127 featured a low-wing monoplane layout with a monocoque fuselage. Its wing incorporated two spars and was entirely metal-covered, equipped with flaps. The retractable landing gear included shock absorbers designed for operation on less prepared airfields. All three crew members were positioned in the forward section of the aircraft.
Specifications
See also
References
Further reading
- Smith, J.Richard and Kay, Anthony. German Aircraft of the Second World War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1972 (third impression 1978). ISBN 0-370-00024-2.
- Wood, Tony and Gunston, Bill. Hitler's Luftwaffe: A pictorial history and technical encyclopedia of Hitler's air power in World War II. London: Salamander Books Ltd., 1977. ISBN 0-86101-005-1.
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