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Heinkel He 111Z

Bomber · Germany · Interwar (1919–1938)

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The Heinkel He 111Z Zwilling ("Twin") was a German twin-fuselage five-engine heavy glider-tug — a unique German solution to towing the massive Messerschmitt Me 321 Gigant cargo glider. Heinkel engineers assembled the He 111Z by joining two He 111 fuselages with a new centre wing section carrying a fifth engine. The prototype first flew in early 1942. Only 12 He 111Z airframes were built between 1942 and 1944. The aircraft served Luftwaffe glider-towing units in Eastern Front supply operations 1942-1944.

The He 111Z used 5 × Jumo 211F V-12 engines (1,340 hp each) — total 6,700 hp. Maximum speed 435 km/h, range 2,400 km with full tow load, service ceiling 7,300 m. Maximum tow capacity: Me 321 Gigant + 23 tonnes of cargo, or alternatively 4 × Gotha Go 242 medium gliders. The aircraft's twin-fuselage layout was extraordinary — two cockpits, two sets of crew, two complete sets of engines (4 on the original wings + 1 on the new centre section).

He 111Z service was concentrated on Eastern Front supply operations 1942-1944. The aircraft was specifically designed to enable Me 321 Gigant cargo-glider use; the Me 321 was too heavy for any single-fuselage aircraft to tow. He 111Z + Me 321 combinations supplied encircled German forces during Eastern Front operations including the failed Stalingrad airlift winter 1942-1943. By 1944 the Me 321 had been replaced by the powered Me 323 Gigant (using six engines instead of glider configuration), eliminating the need for He 111Zs. The remaining He 111Zs were converted to other roles or scrapped. No He 111Z airframes survive.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Heinkel He 111Z Zwilling was a very strange German plane from World War II. The German word Zwilling means 'Twin' in English. The plane was actually two He 111 bombers joined together by a new center wing, creating one giant five-engine glider tug.

Heinkel engineers joined two He 111 fuselages with a new center wing that held a fifth Jumo 211F engine. The plane was built to tow the massive Messerschmitt Me 321 Gigant cargo glider. Only 12 He 111Z planes were built between 1942 and 1944.

The He 111Z had a total of 6,700 horsepower from its five engines. Its top speed was 270 mph and it could fly 1,500 miles with a glider in tow. The plane is much wider than a basketball court is long.

Most He 111Zs served the Luftwaffe on the Eastern Front, where the Germans needed to move heavy supplies and equipment over long distances. The plane was hard to fly because of its strange twin body. Only a few experienced pilots could handle it well. The He 111Z was retired in 1944 when the Me 321 glider program ended.

Fun Facts

The He 111Z was actually two He 111 bombers joined together with a new center wing.
The German word Zwilling means 'Twin' in English.
It had five engines — two on each He 111 plus one in the new center section.
Only 12 He 111Zs were built between 1942 and 1944.
The plane was built to tow the massive Messerschmitt Me 321 cargo glider.
Most He 111Zs served on the Eastern Front, where Germany needed to move heavy supplies.

Kids’ Questions

Why glue two bombers together?

The Messerschmitt Me 321 Gigant was the biggest cargo glider ever built. It was too heavy for a single bomber to tow. So Heinkel engineers joined two He 111 bombers with a new center wing. The combined five-engine plane had enough power to tow the giant glider. It was a quick fix that worked.

Why did Germany need a giant glider?

Germany planned to invade Britain and Malta in 1940 and 1941 and needed a way to land tanks and heavy guns behind enemy lines. The Me 321 Gigant could carry a small tank or 200 troops. After the invasions were cancelled, the Me 321 was used on the Eastern Front to move supplies to remote areas without airports.

Variants

He 111Z-1 (all 12 airframes): Twin-fuselage glider-tug. 12 airframes built 1942-1944.

Notable Operators

Luftwaffe (1942-1944): Sole operator. Eastern Front towing operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Germany build a twin-fuselage aircraft?

To tow the Messerschmitt Me 321 Gigant cargo glider. The Me 321 was the largest aircraft of WWII (55-metre wingspan, 200-passenger / 24-tonne cargo capacity) but had no propulsion. No single-fuselage aircraft of 1941-1942 was powerful enough to tow it. Heinkel's solution was to join two He 111s with a centre wing section + extra engine — creating a 5-engine 6,700 hp tug specifically for Me 321 operations.

How is the He 111Z different from the He 111?

The He 111Z combines two complete He 111 fuselages with a new centre wing carrying a fifth engine. The result is a single 5-engine aircraft with twin fuselages connected by the wing. The original He 111's four engines (two per fuselage) remain on the outer wings; the fifth engine is added on the centre wing between the two fuselages.

How many He 111Zs were built?

Only 12 airframes between 1942 and 1944. The aircraft was specifically built for Me 321 Gigant large-glider operations; once the Me 321 was replaced by the powered Me 323 in 1943-1944, the He 111Z's mission disappeared and production stopped.

Sources

Wikipedia — Heinkel He 111Z