Germany's Henschel Hs 126 reconnaissance1,2
Henschel Hs 126 reconnaissance, towing a glider:
Henschel Hs 126 reconnaissance:
Henschel Hs 126 reconnaissance:
Henschel Hs 126 reconnaissance:
Henschel Hs 126 reconnaissance:
Design
The Henschel Hs 126 was based on the Henschel Hs 122.1
Wings
The high lift parasol wing was designed by Friedrich Nicolaus and this allowed the Hs 126 to use short and rough landing strips.1
Cockpit
Access was via a ladder on the side.1
The rear of the cockpit was open to the elements.1 The gunner/observer had a handheld camera and also operated a Zeiss Rb topographic camera that was located in a bay behind him.1 The canopy had deflector panels to shield the gunner's gun from the slipstream.1
Undercarriage
The wheels had long struts which gave it a none high appearance on the ground.1 To reduce drag, spats were sometimes fitted.1
Prototype
The Hs 126V1 prototype first flew in the autumn of 1936.1,2
Production
Production of the Hs 126 ended in January 1941 as it was replaced by the Focke-Wulf 189.1 Around 800 were produced.2
- Hs 126A-0: 102
Variants
- Hs 126V1: Powered by a Junkers Jumo 210C inline.2
- Hs 126V2: New vertical tail.2 Had Bramo Fafnir 323 radial engine.2
- Hs 126V3: New vertical tail.2 Had Bramo Fafnir 323 radial engine.2
- Hs 126A-0: Service test variant.2
- Hs 126A-1: Had a BMW 132Dc Radial engine (880 HP).1,2
- Hs 126B-1: Production version.2
Usage
The Hs 126 was sometimes used to bomb and strafe.1
Spain
In 1938 six were delivered to the Condor Legion in the Aufklarungsgruppe 88.1,2
Luftwaffe
The Luftwaffe first received Hs 126s in the spring of 1938 into the Aufklarungsgruppe 35.1,2
Invasion of Poland
The Hs 126 supplied 13 squadrons in the invasion of Poland.1
Invasion of Russia
In June 1941, there were 48 Staffeln that had Hs 126B-1s.1,2
North Africa
There was on squadron of Hs 126s used in North Africa.1
Gliders
From 1942 the Hs 126 was withdrawn from front line service and used to tow gliders.1
Nighttime
In mid 1942 some special night units that specialized in close support operations were equipped with the Hs 126.1 These were the Nachtschlachtgruppen.2
| Henschel Hs 126B-11,2 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Reconnaissance1,2 |
| Crew | 21,2 Pilot, gunner/observer1 |
| Engine (Type) | Bramo 323A-2 piston2 BMW Bramo Fafnir 3231 |
| Cylinders | Radial2 91 |
| Cooling | Air1 |
| Net HP | 9001,2 |
| Propeller blades | 31,2 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 46' 6.75"2, 47' 7"1 14.5 m1,2 |
| Length | 35' 7"1,2 10.84 m2, 10.85 m1 |
| Height | 12' 3"1, 12' 3.5"2 3.73 m1, 3.74 m2 |
| Wing area | 340 ft2 1 , 340.14 ft2 2 31.59 m2 1, 31.6 m2 2 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 4,470 lb1, 4,475 lb2 2,030 kg2 |
| Loaded | 7,209 lb1,2 3,270 kg1,2 |
| Performance | |
| Speed @ 9,845' / 3,000 m |
221 mph2 356 kph2 |
| Speed @ 10,000' / 3,050 m |
220 mph1 354 kph1 |
| Cruising speed | |
| Endurance | 2' 15"1 |
| Climb to 1,968' / 600 m |
3.5 minutes1 |
| Climb to 13,125' / 4,000 m |
7.2 minutes2 |
| Service ceiling | 26,900'1, 27,000'2 8,200 m1, 8,230 m2 |
| Range | 360 miles2 560 km2 |
| Armament | |
| Forward fuselage | 1: 7.92 mm MG 171,2 |
| Rear cockpit | 1: 7.92 mm MG 171,2 |
| Bombs | 10: 22 lb1 1: 110 lb1 10: 10 kg1 1: 50 kg1 331 lb2 150 kg2 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
