Henschel Hs 130
Henschel Flugzeugwerke · Germany · first flew 1939 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Henschel Hs 130 was a German high-altitude pressurised reconnaissance and bombing aircraft developed from 1939, capable of operating above 15,000 m in its most advanced form and outrunning most contemporary interceptors at altitude.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 22 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Pressurised high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft with mid tapered wing
- Twin DB 601/603 engines in long-chord wing nacelles
- Elongated glazed nose section for observer/navigator
A large, clean twin-engine mid-wing monoplane with a notably long and slender fuselage, prominent pressurised cockpit section, and long-chord engine nacelles housing large inline engines. Distinguished from the He 111 by its much longer fuselage and absence of a ventral gondola.
Specifications
- The Henschel Hs 130 has a length of 22 m (72 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 33.01 m (108 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 610 km/h (379 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Several variants were developed, culminating in the Hs 130E which used two DB 603B main engines supplemented by a DB 605T auxiliary engine driving a cabin pressurisation supercharger. Despite impressive theoretical performance, the type was plagued by mechanical unreliability and never entered Luftwaffe service.
Variants
Hs 130A was the baseline reconnaissance version; Hs 130C a bomber derivative; Hs 130E the definitive high-altitude variant with auxiliary pressurisation engine.
Where you'll see it
Never entered operational service despite extensive development work; cancelled in favour of focusing on proven types.
Related aircraft
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