Heinkel He 59
Heinkel · Germany · first flew 1931 · bomber
The Heinkel He 59 was a large German twin-engine biplane floatplane developed in the late 1920s for torpedo-bombing, reconnaissance, and minelaying, serving through the early years of World War Two.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 17.4 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- German interwar biplane floatplane torpedo-bomber
- Twin BMW engines in wing nacelles above lower wing
- Used in Spanish Civil War and WWII minelaying/SAR roles
Massive equal-span biplane with two radial engines mounted between the wings in large nacelles, two main floats, an open nose gunner position, and a distinctively boxy fuselage.
Specifications
- The Heinkel He 59 has a length of 17.4 m (57 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 23.7 m (78 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 220 km/h (137 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed in secret to circumvent Versailles Treaty restrictions and first flown in 1931, the He 59 served with the Spanish Nationalists during the Civil War. In WWII it conducted torpedo attacks, minelaying, and later air-sea rescue operations in the North Sea and Mediterranean.
Variants
He 59A floatplane prototype; He 59B-2 torpedo-bomber; He 59C-2 reconnaissance; He 59D-1 and E-1 for training; He 59N for air-sea rescue.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the Luftwaffe and earlier the Legion Condor in Spain; by 1940–41 relegated to training and air-sea rescue as it was obsolete for combat.
Related aircraft
- Heinkel HD 37
- Heinkel He 45
- Heinkel He 46
- Heinkel HD 55
- Amiot 143
- Avions Amiot 140
- Dornier Do Y
- Douglas Y1B-7
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