Heinkel He 72 Kadett

The Heinkel He 72 Kadett ("Cadet") was a German single-engine biplane trainer of the 1930s.

He 72 Kadett
Role Military basic trainer
Manufacturer Heinkel Flugzeugwerke
First flight 1933
Status Retired
Primary users Luftwaffe
National Socialist Flyers Corps
Slovenské vzdušné zbrane
Number built Several thousand [1]

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 The He 72A was superseded by the He 72B, which was the major production version.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

 Bulgaria
 Czechoslovakia
 Germany
 Japan
 Slovakia

Specifications (He 72B)

Data from Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945 Vol.2 – Flugzeugtypen Erla-Heinkel[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 7.5 m (24 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 9 m (29 ft 6 in)
  • Height: 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 20.7 m2 (223 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 540 kg (1,190 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 865 kg (1,907 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 110 L (29 US gal; 24 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × BMW-Bramo Siemens-Halske Sh 14A 7-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine 160 PS (160 hp; 120 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller, 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) diameter

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 194 km/h (121 mph, 105 kn) at 1,000 m (3,281 ft)
  • Cruise speed: 158 km/h (98 mph, 85 kn)
  • Landing speed: 80 km/h (50 mph; 43 kn)
  • Range: 820 km (510 mi, 440 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,200 m (13,800 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 3 m/s (590 ft/min)
  • Time to altitude: 2,000 m (6,562 ft) in 14 minutes

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. Wood and Gunston 1977, p.179.
  2. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
  3. Nowarra, Heinz J. (1993). Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945 Vol.2 – Flugzeugtypen Erla-Heinkel (in German). Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe Verlag. pp. 183–184, 270–271. ISBN 3-7637-5464-4.

Further reading

  • Wood, Tony; Gunston, Bill (1 November 1984). Hitler's Luftwaffe : a pictorial history and technical encyclopedia of Hitler's air power in World War II (2nd ed.). Chartwell Books. ISBN 978-0890097588.


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