Skip to content
79,433 pages · 13,741 images · since 1994 Browse A–Z Today in space history
Encyclopedia Astronautica The full story of spaceflight
Encyclopedia entry

He-112

Germany

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

The Heinkel He-112 was an unsuccessful pre-war German monoplane fighter, competing for orders with the Bf 109. However it entered rocketry history when tests were conducted in 1935 with rocket engines.

Specification of the basic aircraft were:

Crew: 1
Engines: 1 x 680hp Junkers Jumo 210Da
Wing Span: 11.50 m
Length: 9.00 m
Height: 3.70 m
Wing Area: 23.20 m2
Empty Weight: 1680 kg
Speed: 488 kph
Ceiling: 8000m

Country
Germany
Agency
Heinkel
Bibliography
17, 693, 8314

Chronology

3 events

June 1935

LV Family: German Rocketplanes. Launch Vehicle: He-112.
  • He-112 rocket engine static tests. - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Heinkel, Ernst. First static tests of Heinkel He-112 with rocket engines performed in Germany..

December 1936

Launch Site: Kummersdorf. Launch Complex: Kummersdorf. LV Family: German Rocketplanes. Launch Vehicle: He-112.
  • Rocketplane stand tests completed at Kummersdorf - . Nation: Germany. During the year the team had proven installation of a 1000 kgf engine, installed in a He-112, at burn times of up to 90 seconds..

February 1937

Launch Site: Peenemuende. Launch Complex: Peenemuende.
  • German rocketplane tests - . Nation: Germany. Spacecraft Bus: German Rocketplanes. Spacecraft: He-112.

    Three flight tests were made between February and April in a He-112 equipped with a 300 kgf liquid fuel rocket engine by Flight-Captain Erich Warsitz from Neuhardenberg near Berlin. On the final flight Warstiz smelled something burning, and made an emergency belly landing. He survived but the aircraft had to be written off. Engine exhaust had flowed back into the space between the engine and fuselage and burnt cables. Work on this engine continued at Area 4 at Peenemuende. The planned application was a 1000 kgf JATO pod, with a burn time of 30 seconds, to boost bombers into the air.