Heinkel HD 25

HD 25

National origin: Germany
Manufacturer: Heinkel, Aichi
First flight: 1926
Primary user: Imperial Japanese Navy
Number built: ca. 18

The Heinkel HD 25 was a reconnaissance seaplane developed in Germany during the 1920s for production in Japan. It was intended to provide a spotter aircraft for warships, to take off from a short ramp since shipboard catapults had not yet been invented. The HD 25 was a conventional biplane with staggered wings and twin pontoon undercarriage. The pilot and observer sat in tandem, open cockpits.

Two prototypes were built by Heinkel in Germany, with the first flying in 1926. Following trials, the Navy officially accepted the type in March 1928 and gave it the designation Type 2 Two-seat Reconnaissance Seaplane. 16 were built by Aichi and saw brief service aboard the cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

A single example of a demilitarised version was built by Aichi as the AB-1.

Specifications (Aichi-built)

General characteristics

Crew: Two, pilot and observer
Length: 9.70 m (31 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 14.88 m (48 ft 10 in)
Height: 4.27 m (14 ft 0 in)
Empty weight: 1,700 kg (3,750 lb)
Gross weight: 2,570 kg (5,650 lb)
Powerplant: 1 x— Napier Lion, 334 kW (450 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 203 km/h (127 mph)
Range: 910 km (570 miles)
Rate of climb: 3.3 m/s (645 ft/min)

Armament

1 x— flexible, rearward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in) machine gun for observer
300 kg (661 lb) of bombs

Mikesh, Robert C.; Abe, Shorzoe (1990). Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941. London: Putnam. ISBN 0 85177 840 2.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 499.

Heinkel HD 25 Pictures and Heinkel HD 25 for Sale.

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Source: WikiPedia