Heinkel HE 8

HE 8 and HE 31
Role	Reconnaissance seaplane
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Heinkel
First flight	1927
Primary user	Danish Navy
Number built	22

The Heinkel HE 8 was a reconnaissance seaplane built in Germany in the late 1920s. It was developed at the request of the Danish Navy, which had noted the success of the HE 5 in Swedish service, and wished to purchase a similar aircraft as well as licensed production as the Orlogsvaerftet HM.II. Apart from its new Armstrong Siddeley engine, the HE 8 also differed from the HE 5 and previous members of the HE 1 family in having a conventional empennage. 22 aircraft were operated until the German invasion in 1940, after which one example was impressed into Luftwaffe service and the remainder placed in storage.

A single HE 8 was built with a Packard 3A-2500 engine and designated HE 31.

Specifications (HE 8)

General characteristics

• Crew: Two, pilot and observer
• Length: 11.65 m (38 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 16.77 m (55 ft 0 in)
• Height: 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in)
• Wing area: 47.0 m² (506 ft²)
• Empty weight: 1,675 kg (3.693 lb)
• Gross weight: 2,650 kg (5,840 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar, 336 kW (450 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 210 km/h (130 mph)
• Range: 1,290 km (810 miles)
• Service ceiling: 5,600 m (18,373 ft)
• Rate of climb: 2.8 m/s (550 ft/min)

Armament

• 1 × fixed, forward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine gun
• 1 × trainable, rearward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine gun
• 12 × 0.5 kg (1 lb) bombs

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 498.