Heinkel He 74
The Heinkel He 74 was a light fighter aircraft developed in Germany in the early 1930s. It was a conventional, single-bay biplane with staggered, unequal-span wings braced with an I-strut. The pilot sat in an open cockpit, and the undercarriage was of the fixed, tailskid type. It was designed in response to a RLM requirement for a Heimatschutzjäger - a light fighter aircraft suitable for purely defensive duties and which would have a secondary role as an advanced trainer for fighter pilots. Although it was not strictly a requirement of the specification, firms submitting designs were urged to use a monoplane layout. During trials in 1934, the He 74 outperformed its competitors, but in the end, the RLM awarded it third place, behind the Focke-Wulf Fw 56 and Arado Ar 76, believing that since the fighters then being developed were all monoplanes, this configuration was essential for an advanced trainer as well.
Sources:
Gunston, Bill & Wood, Tony - Hitler's Luftwaffe
, 1977, Salamander
Books Ltd., London
Wikipedia - He 74
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Type: Advanced Trainer And Light Home Defence Fighter Origin: Ernest Heinkel AG Models: He 74a, He 74b and He 74B First Flight: 1933 Service Delivery: None Final Delivery: None Production: 3 Engine: Model: Argus As 10C Type: Inverted V8 air cooled Horsepower: 240hp Dimensions: Wing span: 8.15m (26 ft. 8.75 in.) Length: 6.45m (21 ft. 2 in.) Height: 2.20m (7 ft. 2.5in.) Wing Surface Area: N/A |
Weights: Empty: 1,697 lb. (770kg) Maximum: 2,242 lb. (1017kg) Performance: Maximum Speed: 174mph (280kph) Initial climb: N/A Range: 230 miles (370km) Service Ceiling: N/A Armament: Planned: Two 7.92mm Rheinmetall MG 17 synchronized above fuselage |
The Heinkel He 74 was a light fighter aircraft developed in Germany in the early 1930s. It was a conventional, single-bay biplane with staggered, unequal-span wings braced with an I-strut. The pilot sat in an open cockpit, and the undercarriage was of the fixed, tailskid type. It was designed in response to a RLM requirement for a Heimatschutzjäger - a light fighter aircraft suitable for purely defensive duties and which would have a secondary role as an advanced trainer for fighter pilots. Although it was not strictly a requirement of the specification, firms submitting designs were urged to use a monoplane layout. During trials in 1934, the He 74 outperformed its competitors, but in the end, the RLM awarded it third place, behind the Focke-Wulf Fw 56 and Arado Ar 76, believing that since the fighters then being developed were all monoplanes, this configuration was essential for an advanced trainer as well.
Sources:
Gunston, Bill & Wood, Tony - Hitler's Luftwaffe
, 1977, Salamander
Books Ltd., LondonWikipedia - He 74
