Heinkel HD 40
Heinkel · Germany · first flew 1927 · transport aircraft
The Heinkel HD 40 was a special-purpose cargo aircraft developed in Germany in the 1920s to distribute the Berlin newspaper B.Z.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Fuselage that nearly fills the gap between the wings |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay biplane with staggered wings of unequal span
- Fuselage that nearly fills the gap between the wings
- Open pilot cockpit and fixed tailskid undercarriage with divided main units
Alongside the newspaper cargo bay, a second compartment could carry extra cargo or up to eight reporters or passengers.
Specifications
- The Heinkel HD 40 has a length of 11.9 m (39 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17.6 m (58 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 180 km/h (112 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The success of Heinkel's earlier HD 39 for the publisher led to an order for a similar but considerably enlarged aircraft. The HD 40 first flew in 1927.
Variants
It was an enlarged development of the HD 39, with wings of wood and a welded steel tube fuselage skinned in plywood.
Where you'll see it
It served the Ullstein-Verlag publishing house. After only six months it was destroyed in a crash caused by engine failure.
Related aircraft
- Heinkel HD 15
- Heinkel He 8
- Heinkel HD 16
- Heinkel HD 19
- Aviméta 132
- Caproni Ca.97
- de Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth
- Elias AJE Air Express
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