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Heinkel He 46

Reconnaissance · Germany · Interwar (1919–1938)

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The Heinkel He 46 was a German two-seat parasol-monoplane reconnaissance aircraft — a sister design to the He 45 biplane with similar mission but different aerodynamic configuration. Karl Schwärzler designed the He 46 in 1931; the prototype first flew in late 1931. About 480 He 46s were built between 1933 and 1936 at Heinkel + multiple licensed plants. The aircraft entered Luftwaffe service in 1934 and saw in-service use through 1938.

The He 46 used a Bramo 322B 9-cylinder radial engine (650 hp). Maximum speed 250 km/h, range 1,000 km, service ceiling 6,000 m. Armament: 1 × MG 15 7.92 mm flexible-mount in rear cockpit + up to 200 kg of bombs. Crew: 2 (pilot + observer/gunner). The aircraft used a parasol-monoplane layout (wing mounted above the fuselage on struts) — providing better visibility for the observer than the He 45's biplane layout but slightly less rugged construction.

He 46 service was concentrated in Luftwaffe Aufklärungsstaffel (reconnaissance squadrons) 1934-1938 alongside the He 45. About 12 He 46s served Condor Legion 1.A/88 in Spanish Civil War 1936-1938. The aircraft was retired from front-line Luftwaffe service by 1938; surviving airframes served as trainers + liaison aircraft through 1943. About 30 export airframes served Bulgarian + Hungarian + Spanish air forces through the late 1940s. No He 46 airframes survive.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Heinkel He 46 was a German parasol-monoplane scout plane from the early 1930s. A parasol-monoplane has its single wing held above the body on struts. The He 46 was a sister design to the He 45 biplane, but with one wing instead of two.

Karl Schwärzler designed the He 46 in 1931 — the same year he designed the He 45. The first He 46 flew in late 1931. About 480 He 46s were built between 1933 and 1936 in Germany.

The He 46 used a 650-horsepower Bramo radial engine. Its top speed was 155 mph. The plane carried two crew — a pilot and an observer-gunner. The He 46 is about as long as a small school bus.

The He 46 served the Luftwaffe from 1934 until 1938. It carried small bombs and a single flexible machine gun in the rear cockpit. The plane was used for short-range scout missions over German army units. By 1938, faster planes had replaced the He 46 in front-line service.

Fun Facts

The He 46 was a parasol-monoplane — its wing sat above the body on struts.
It was a sister design to the He 45 biplane, but with one wing instead of two.
About 480 He 46s were built between 1933 and 1936.
The plane was designed by Karl Schwärzler in 1931 — the same year as the He 45.
It carried two crew — a pilot and an observer-gunner.
By 1938, faster planes had replaced the He 46 in front-line service.

Kids’ Questions

Why a parasol design?

A parasol wing held above the body gave the observer-gunner a clear view of the ground below. The wing also stayed clear of the engine exhaust and any spray from the propeller. Parasol-monoplanes were a popular shape for early scout planes in the 1920s and 1930s, before low-wing all-metal monoplanes took over.

What does the observer do?

The observer rides in the back cockpit and looks at the ground below for enemy soldiers, tanks, supply trucks, and bridges. They take pictures, sketch maps, and call out targets to artillery on the ground. The observer also operates a flexible machine gun to defend the plane against attackers from behind.

Variants

He 46A / B (initial): Initial 1933-1935 production. About 200 built. BMW Bramo 322B engines.
He 46C (improved): Refined production variant. About 250 built.
He 46D / E (export): Export variants. About 30 built for Bulgaria, Hungary, Spain.

Notable Operators

Luftwaffe Aufklärungsstaffel (1934-1938): Principal user. Field reconnaissance across Luftwaffe air districts.
Condor Legion (Spain 1936-1938): About 12 He 46s in 1.A/88.
Bulgarian / Hungarian / Spanish air forces: About 30 export airframes. Continued service to late 1940s.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the He 46 different from the He 45?

The He 45 is a biplane (two wings stacked vertically); the He 46 is a parasol monoplane (single wing mounted above the fuselage on struts). Both share the same mission (two-seat field reconnaissance) and similar performance. The parasol layout gives the He 46 better observer visibility; the biplane layout gives the He 45 better structural ruggedness + slower stall speed. Luftwaffe procurement bought both designs as complementary alternatives.

How many He 46s were built?

About 480 airframes 1933-1936 at Heinkel + licensed German plants. Production was complementary to the He 45 (~512 built), not competitive — Luftwaffe Aufklärungsstaffel units operated mixed He 45 + He 46 fleets.

Sources

Wikipedia — Heinkel He 46