Henschel Hs 130

Infobox Aircraft
name = Hs 130


caption =
type = High altidude rearch/reconnaissance aircraft
national origin = Germany
manufacturer = Henschel
designer =
first flight = 1939
introduction =
retired =
status = Prototypes only
primary user = "Luftwaffe"
more users =
produced =
number built =
program cost =
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles =
Henschel's Hs 130 was a German high-altitude reconnaissance and bomber aircraft developed in World War II, but never used operationally due to various mechanical faults.

Background

Development of the Hs 130 began with two Hs 128 prototypes, which first flew on 11 April 1939, with the second prototype flying on 20 February 1940. Dressel and Greil 1994, p.166.] Both prototypes were research aircraft, used for testing pressurized cabins, engine superchargers, and cantilever wings. Different engines powered the two prototypes; the V1 by Daimler-Benz DB 601s and the V2 by Junkers Jumo 210s. Both had a fixed landing gear. Donald 1999, p.147.] While trials of the two prototypes were not successful, the potential of a high altitude aircraft caught the attention of Theodor Rowehl, commander of the Luftwaffe's special reconnaissance unit. Rowehl's interest in the Hs 128’s potential for high altitude reconnaissance missions led Reich Air Ministry to instruct Henschel to continue development of the Hs 128 as a reconnaissance aircraft under the designation Hs 130A. Smith and Kay 1990, p.328.]

Development

Three prototype aircraft Hs 130 As were built, the first flying on 23 May 1940. Five pre-production Hs 130A-0's followed, being delivered in early 1941, and featured DB 601R engines, a single stage supercharger, retractable landing gear, and a bay in the rear to house two Rb75/30 cameras for reconnaissance. The five Hs 130A-0s subsequently underwent trials and testing, which revealed significant problems with the aircraft performance, and reliability problems which prevented operational use. Green 1968, p.22.] Two further modified Hs 130A-0s was produced under the designation Hs 130A-0/U6 and featured a greater wingspan, DB 605B engines, Hirth superchargers, GM-1 nitrous oxide power boosting, and under-wing drop tanks, and being ready for flight testing in November 1943, demonstrating an absolute ceiling of 15,500 m (50,570 ft). The Hs 130A-0/U6 variant as well as the other Hs 130A-0s proved unsatisfactory and were never flown operationally.

Further development of the Hs 130 led to bomber variants. The planned Hs 130B was almost the same as the Hs 130A, but with a bomb bay in place of the camera bay, but was never built. The Hs 130C was built as a competitor for the "Bomber B" project, and was very different from the Hs 130A, featuring a shorter wing span, remotely controlled defensive armament, a more extensively glazed (but still pressurized) cabin and up to 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) of bombs. Three prototypes, V1, V2, and V3 were built, with V1 and V2 were powered by BMW 801 radials, and V3, featuring full armament by DB 603A engines. Green 1968, pp.130—131.] Further development of the Hs 130 as a reconnaissance aircraft continued with the Hs 130D, which was planned to have DB 605 engines and a complex two-stage supercharger, but was again unbuilt.Green 1968, p.24.]

The Hs 130E was a re-working of the Hs 130A with the "Höhen Zentrale (HZ)-Anlage " system in place of conventional superchargers. HZ-Anlage installed a third engine in the fuselage, a DB 605, the only purpose of which was to power a large supercharger to supply air to the wing-mounted DB 603B engines. Such a system had first been tried some twenty-five years previously, on the R.30/17 example of the Zeppelin Staaken R.VI bomber. Another difference from the Hs 130A was the nose, which was extended forward to offset the weight of the HZ-Anlage engine in the fuselage. Also underwing fuel tanks could be fitted to provide fuel for three engines, and air scoops were fitted under the fuselage to supply the fuselage engine.

Three prototype Hs 130Es were built; Hs 130E V1 first flew in September 1942, and could reach 12,500 metres when HZ-Anlage was employed. Hs 130E V2 was lost due to an engine fire; V3 was built to replace it. Green 1968, pp.26, 28.] An order for seven pre-production Hs 130E-0s followed, first flying in May 1943, together with a production order was placed for 100 Hs 130E-1s which were to have a remotely controlled defensive armament and provisions for underwing bombs. The order was cancelled due to continuing problems suffered by the Hs 130E-0's HZ-Anlange system. An Hs 130F was planned, which was hoped to solve the problems with HZ-Anlage, by using four supercharged BMW 801 engines, but was never built.

pecifications (Hs 130E )

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref= War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Ten Green 1968, p.28.]

crew=Three
capacity=
length main=22.00 m
length alt= 72 ft 2 in
span main= 33.01 m
span alt= 108 ft 3¼ in
height main= 5.60 m
height alt= 18 ft 4½ in
area main= 84.9 m²
area alt= 914 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 12,200 kg Smith and Kay 1990, p.330.]
empty weight alt= 26,901 lb
loaded weight main=16,682 kg
loaded weight alt= 36,700 lb
useful load main= kg
useful load alt= lb
max takeoff weight main= 18,136 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 39,900 lb
more general=one Daimler-Benz DB 605T, (1,100 kW (1,475 hp Smith and Kay 1990, p.329.] )) driving "HZ-Anlange" supercharger in fuselage

engine (prop)=Daimler-Benz DB 603B
type of prop=V-12 liquid cooled engine
number of props=2
power main= 1,388 kW
power alt= 1860 hp
power original=
power more= at 2,100 m (6,900 ft)

max speed main= 610 km/h
max speed alt= 330 knots, 379 mph
max speed more= at 14,000 m (45,900 ft)
cruise speed main= 515 km/h
cruise speed alt= 278 knots, 320 mph
cruise speed more=at 12,000 m (39,370 ft)
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 2,995 km
range alt= 1,671 nm, 1,860 mi
ceiling main= 15,100 m
ceiling alt= 49,500 ft
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main= 196 kg/m²
loading alt= 40.2 lb/ft²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=

armament=

avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=

similar aircraft=

sequence=
Hs 127 -
Hs 129 -Hs 130 -
Bü 131 -
Hs 132

lists=
*List of military aircraft of Germany

see also=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Donald, David.(ed.). "Warplanes of the Luftwaffe". London:Aerospace, 1999. ISBN 1 874023 56 5.
* Dressel, Joachim and Griel, Manfred. "Bombers of the Luftwaffe". London:Arms and Armour Press, 1994. ISBN 1-85409-140-9.
* Green, William. "War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Ten Bombers". London:Macdonald, 1968.
* Green, William. "Warplanes of the Third Reich". London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1970 (fourth impression 1979). ISBN 0-356-02382-6.
* Nowarra, Heinz J. "Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933-1945" (in German). Koblenz, Germany: Bernard & Graeffe Verlag, 1993. ISBN 3-7637-5464-4.
* Smith, J.R. and Kay, Anthony. "German Aircraft of the Second World War". London: Putnam , 1990. ISBN 85177 836 4.
* 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.