Heinkel He 45

Heinkel · Germany · first flew 1931 · bomber

The Heinkel He 45 was a German single-engine biplane designed for reconnaissance and light bombing roles in the early 1930s. It served as both an operational aircraft and a trainer for the clandestine re-expansion of German air power.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	10.6 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Single-engine biplane with open cockpits
Inverted-gull lower wing profile on some variants
Fixed spatted undercarriage

A conventional single-engine biplane with unequal-span wings, fixed undercarriage with wheel fairings, and an open two-seat tandem cockpit; the lower wing is mounted lower than many contemporaries, giving a slight gull appearance.

Specifications

The Heinkel He 45 has a length of 10.6 m (35 ft).
It has a wingspan of 11.5 m (38 ft).
Its maximum speed is 290 km/h (180 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

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

History

Developed in 1931 by Heinkel, the He 45 entered Luftwaffe service before Germany openly rearmed and served in the Spanish Civil War with the Condor Legion. It was considered obsolete by the outbreak of World War II but continued as a night harassment bomber on the Eastern Front.

Variants

The primary production versions were the He 45a through He 45e, differing mainly in engine fits and equipment; Spain operated licence-built examples designated CASA He 45.

Where you'll see it

The He 45 served the Luftwaffe and the Spanish Nationalist air arm; a handful of examples ended up in Bulgarian and Chinese hands during the late 1930s.

Related aircraft

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