Heinkel HD 23
Heinkel / Aichi · Germany · first flew 1927 · fighter
The Heinkel HD 23 was a German single-seat biplane fighter floatplane designed by Ernst Heinkel and produced in Japan by Aichi for the Imperial Japanese Navy. It represented an early example of German aviation technology transfer to Japan.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.55 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- German-designed biplane fighter built under licence in Japan
- Heinkel export design adopted by Imperial Japanese Navy
- Twin-float biplane with radial engine
A conventional equal-span biplane on twin floats with a radial engine; the Heinkel heritage is apparent in the clean lines and twin-float configuration typical of Heinkel seaplane designs of the period.
Specifications
- The Heinkel HD 23 has a length of 7.55 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.8 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 250 km/h (155 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Heinkel designed the HD 23 in the mid-1920s and sold the design to Japan, where Aichi built it under licence. The type served briefly with the Imperial Japanese Navy as a reconnaissance and fighter floatplane. It was supplanted by more capable domestic designs as Japan's own aviation industry matured.
Variants
The Aichi-built version differed in minor details from the original Heinkel prototype.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the late 1920s in limited numbers as a shipboard floatplane fighter.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.