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Heinkel He 70

Digital Age (2010–present)

Heinkel He 70 — Fixed Wing
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The Heinkel He 70 Blitz ("Lightning") was a German single-engine four-passenger fast mailplane / transport — Heinkel's first all-metal monoplane and one of the fastest aircraft of the early 1930s. The Günter brothers (Siegfried and Walter Günter) designed the He 70 at Heinkel's Warnemünde plant in 1932; the prototype first flew on 1 December 1932. About 318 He 70s were built between 1933 and 1938. The aircraft set 8 world speed records in 1933 and served as Lufthansa's express mail aircraft + Luftwaffe's prototype reconnaissance / liaison aircraft through 1938.

The He 70 used a BMW VI V-12 engine (750 hp). Maximum speed 360 km/h (faster than most contemporary fighters), range 800 km, service ceiling 5,500 m. Capacity: 4 passengers + 2 crew, or 1 ton of mail / cargo. The aircraft's distinctive elliptical inverted-gull wing design was extremely modern for 1932 — Reginald Mitchell visited Heinkel + studied the He 70 wing design before adopting elliptical wings on the Supermarine Spitfire. The He 70 directly influenced both the Spitfire's wing and the He 111 medium bomber's design.

He 70 service was concentrated in Lufthansa express mail routes (Berlin-Hamburg, Berlin-Warsaw, Berlin-Stockholm) and Luftwaffe reconnaissance / liaison roles. The aircraft was widely exhibited at international air shows and set 8 world speed records in 1933 with maximum speeds up to 377 km/h. Combat use was limited — about 12 He 70s served the Condor Legion in Spain 1936-1937 in reconnaissance role. The type was retired from Lufthansa service by 1938 and from Luftwaffe service by 1939. About 2 airframes survive partially preserved.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Heinkel He 70 Blitz was a German mail plane from the early 1930s. Its name Blitz means Lightning in German. The He 70 first flew in December 1932. About 318 He 70s were built between 1933 and 1938. It set 8 world speed records in 1933.

The He 70 is 39 feet long with a 49-foot wingspan, smaller than a Boeing 737. One BMW VI 12-cylinder engine made 750 horsepower. Top speed is 224 mph, faster than most race cars. The plane carried 4 passengers and 2 crew, or 1 ton of mail.

The He 70's beautiful elliptical wings (shaped like an oval slice) were very advanced for 1932. British engineer Reginald Mitchell visited Heinkel and studied the He 70's wing. Mitchell then designed the Supermarine Spitfire with similar elliptical wings. The He 70 also inspired the He 111 medium bomber.

Lufthansa used He 70s for fast mail service across Germany. The Luftwaffe used some He 70s as scouts and liaison planes. By 1938, the He 70 was outdated and removed from front-line service. The He 70 is famous as the inspiration for one of the most iconic fighters of WWII.

Fun Facts

  • The He 70 Blitz was Heinkel's first all-metal monoplane.
  • About 318 He 70s were built between 1933 and 1938.
  • The He 70 is 39 feet long, smaller than a Boeing 737.
  • Top speed is 224 mph, faster than most race cars.
  • The He 70 set 8 world speed records in 1933.
  • Blitz means Lightning in German.
  • The He 70's elliptical wing inspired the Supermarine Spitfire.

Kids’ Questions

How did it inspire the Spitfire?

British engineer Reginald Mitchell was designing a new fighter at Supermarine in the mid-1930s. He visited the Heinkel factory in Germany and studied the He 70's elliptical wing. Mitchell loved the smooth wing shape and used the same elliptical wing on his Supermarine Spitfire. The Spitfire became one of WWII's most iconic fighters.

What is an elliptical wing?

An elliptical wing has a curved shape like an oval cut in half. It is the most efficient wing shape for slow flight, with the least drag for the lift produced. Other planes (like the Hawker Hurricane) used simpler straight wings, which were easier to build but slightly less efficient. The He 70 was the first plane to use elliptical wings in serious production.

What was Lufthansa fast mail?

Lufthansa is Germany's national airline, founded in 1926. In the 1930s, Lufthansa flew fast mail planes between German cities. The He 70 was Lufthansa's fastest mail plane, carrying letters and small packages at 224 mph. Before the He 70, mail moved much slower by train. The He 70 helped show how fast aviation was changing.

Variants

He 70 (basic mailplane)
Original Lufthansa mailplane. About 28 built.
He 70F (military reconnaissance)
Luftwaffe reconnaissance variant. About 290 built. Cameras + defensive armament.
He 70G (export / VIP)
Export and government VIP variants. Small numbers.

Notable Operators

Lufthansa (1934-1938)
Principal civil user. Express mail routes from Berlin to European destinations.
Luftwaffe (1935-1939)
Reconnaissance and liaison role. ~250 He 70Fs in front-line service.
Condor Legion (Spain)
About 12 He 70Fs flew Spanish Civil War reconnaissance 1936-1937.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the He 70 inspire the Spitfire?

Yes — partially. Supermarine designer Reginald Mitchell visited Heinkel and studied the He 70's elliptical inverted-gull wing in 1934 during early Spitfire design work. Mitchell adopted an elliptical wing planform for the Spitfire that closely resembled the He 70's. The aerodynamic principles (smooth elliptical lift distribution to minimise induced drag) were the same. The Spitfire's wing is functionally a refinement of the He 70 concept.

How fast was the He 70?

360 km/h cruise; up to 377 km/h in record-setting trim. This made it faster than most contemporary military fighters of 1933 (Bristol Bulldog: 280 km/h; Boeing P-26 Peashooter: 377 km/h). The He 70 set 8 world speed records in 1933, generating substantial commercial publicity for Lufthansa and political publicity for Heinkel within the Third Reich.

How many He 70s were built?

About 318 airframes 1933-1938 at Heinkel Warnemünde. About 90% (290) were He 70F military reconnaissance variants for the Luftwaffe; ~28 were He 70 civil mailplanes for Lufthansa.

Sources

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