Heinkel / Aichi HD 23

Shipborne Biplane Fighter Prototype [ 1926 ]

The Japanese were not impressed with the Heinkel HD 23 shipborne biplane fighter of Germany - leading to just four examples being built in total.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/03/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke (Heinkel) of Germany began operations in the aviation business during December of 1922. From a Japanese Empire government request, their first single-seat, single-engine fighter became the "HD 23", a traditionally-arranged biplane intended for shipborne (catapult-launched, crane-recovered) operations. Following a first-flight in 1925-1926 and delivery of two prototypes from Germany in 1927, Aichi of Japan made some local modifications to the aircraft and built a further two more examples. Beyond these offerings, the GD 23 - known to the Japanese as the "Type H Carrier Fighter" - was not adopted for service after being evaluated at length by Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) authorities.

As built, the HD 23 seated one pilot in an open-air cockpit positioned high over the nose section. The wing mainplanes were of equal span and included an upper and lower wing section joined by a network of support struts (N-style) and cabling. The lower fuselage incorporated a boat-like hull and held flotation bags for on-water landings in case of emergency. The undercarriage was wheeled at the two main leg members and fixed during flight. Dimensions included a length of 24.8 feet, a wingspan of 35.4 feet and a height of 12.4 feet. Empty weight was 3,240lb against an MTOW of 4,560lb.

The original German prototype (HD 23a) was powered by the BMW VIa 12-cylinder, water-cooled engine delivering 600 horsepower and the second followed with a Hispano-Suiza 12Ha engine of 450 horsepower. In-service aircraft were to carry 2 x 7.92mm machine guns synchronized to fire through the spinning propeller blades.

Once available to Aichi engineers in Japan, workers installed a jettisonable undercarriage for on-water operations (landing and take-off) as well as wing-based slats for better control. In testing the aircraft was found to possess poor qualities for a shipborne fighter - it was underpowered and heavy and exhibited inadequate control. In testing the HD 23a reached a speed of 160mph and a service ceiling of 26,000 feet.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke (Heinkel) - Germany / Aichi - Imperial Japan
Manufacturer(s)

Imperial Japan (cancelled)
Operators

1926
Service Year

Germany
National Origin

1
Crew

4
Units

AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.

MARITIME / NAVY
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.

X-PLANE
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.

24.8 ft
(7.55 meters)
Length

35.4 ft
(10.80 meters)
Width/Span

12.5 ft
(3.80 meters)
Height

3,241 lb
(1,470 kilograms)
Empty Weight

4,564 lb
(2,070 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight

+1,323 lb
(+600 kg)
Weight Difference

1 x BMW VIa 12-cylinder water-cooled inline piston engine developing 660 horsepower and driving a two-bladed propeller at the nose.
Propulsion

155 mph
(250 kph | 135 knots)
Max Speed

25,919 ft
(7,900 m | 5 miles)
Ceiling

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

PROPOSED:
2 x 7.92mm machine guns mounted over the nose, synchronized to fire through the spinning propeller blades.

0
Hardpoints

HD 23 - Base Series Designation

HD 23a - Initial prototype form; two completed in Germany, two completed in Japan.

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