Heinkel He 170
Heinkel · Germany · first flew 1937 · transport aircraft
The Heinkel He 170 was a fast courier and reconnaissance aircraft exported to Hungary, derived from the He 70 but fitted with a French Gnome-Rhône 14K radial engine to avoid dependence on German inline engine supply.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, elliptical |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- He 70 family elliptical wing with French Gnome-Rhône 14K radial engine
- Hungarian Air Force fast courier and reconnaissance aircraft
- Export derivative of He 70 with radial engine replacing inline
The elliptical wing of the He 70 family is the primary recognition feature; the He 170 is distinguished from the He 70 by the large-diameter radial engine cowling replacing the streamlined inline installation.
Specifications
- The Heinkel He 170 has a length of 11.5 m (38 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.8 m (49 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 410 km/h (255 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Hungary ordered the He 170 as an export variant of the elegant He 70, which had been famous for its record-breaking performance. The radial engine installation distinguished the He 170 from its predecessor and gave the Hungarian aircraft a different frontal silhouette.
Variants
The He 170 was a single export variant; the He 70 baseline spawned several versions for the Luftwaffe and Swissair.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively by Hungary, used for courier, liaison and reconnaissance duties.
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