Heinkel HD 22

Heinkel · Germany · first flew 1926 · light aircraft

The Heinkel HD 22 was a German two-seat single-bay biplane trainer of 1926, powered by a BMW IV water-cooled inline engine, produced under licence in Hungary by Manfred Weiss for the Hungarian Air Force. Its N-form interplane struts and slender inline-engined nose are its most recognisable features.

Recognition (WEFT)

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

• Single-bay staggered biplane with N-form interplane struts
• Water-cooled inline engine giving a slender pointed nose
• Open tandem cockpits with fixed tailskid undercarriage

A compact single-bay biplane with marked wing stagger, N-type interplane struts, and the slender nose of a water-cooled inline engine. The fixed split-axle undercarriage and open tandem cockpits are typical of late-1920s trainer biplanes.

Specifications

• The Heinkel HD 22 has a length of 8.3 m (27 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 12 m (39 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 204 km/h (127 mph).
• Typical crew: 2 (tandem).

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Designed at Heinkel-Flugzeugwerke as a basic and advanced trainer, the HD 22 was not widely adopted in Germany due to restrictions of the Versailles Treaty but found a ready market in Hungary. Approximately 30 aircraft were built by Manfred Weiss Works in Budapest, equipping the fledgling Hungarian air arm through the late 1920s and early 1930s.

Variants

The basic HD 22 was produced with minor variations in equipment and cockpit configuration for export customers.

Where you'll see it

Primary operator was the Hungarian Air Force; a handful may have served with other central European operators.

Related aircraft

• Heinkel He 8
• Heinkel HD 19
• Heinkel HD 38
• Heinkel HD 43
• Aero A.22
• Aero A.30
• American Eagle A-101
• Arado S I

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