Let Let Let – Warplanes

Dornier developed an even more powerful 4-engined version of the Superwal. With two tandem nacelles on top of a strengthened centre wing section it had much higher flight performances than the 2-engine Superwal. The first one, the Italian registered I-RIDE made in January/February 1928 a series or world record flights for speed and distance flown by Dornier chief test pilot Richard Wagner. The 4-engine Superwal was built with various types of engines. The 480 hp Gnome-Rhone Jupiter VI or the 525 hp Siemens Jupiter radial engines were used, but also the 460 hp Napier Lion in-line liquid-cooled engine and for two machines supplied to the U.S.A. even the 550 hp Pratt & Whitney Hornet was used.

Lufthansa picture showing the 4-mot Wal D-1337 Pottwal (sperm-whale)

In total, the following 4-engine Superwals were built:

-six for the Italian airline company SANA
-seven for the Deutsche Lufthansa
-two for US costumers

Further one additional plane was supplied to CASA for local assembling in Spain.

Rare shot of the 4-mot Superwal D-1447 Graf Zeppelin during a promotional tour in 1928 at Amsterdam-Schellingwoude, the Netherlands

Technical details 4-engine Superwal:

Engines: 4 various powerplants with output of 460-550 hp
Wing span: 28.60 m
Length: 24.60 m
Height: 6.00 m
Max. speed: 210 km/h
Service ceiling: 2000 m
All-up weight: 14000 kg

Heinkel HD-15

Although Heinkel is more widely known for its series of floatplanes, this company also designed and built in 1927 a small three-seat flying boat, known as the HD-15. It was a biplane with the engine placed centrally under the parasol upper wing driving a two-bladed tractor propeller. It was made entirely of wood with an open cockpit for the pilot under the engine. In the rear of the hull there were two separate places for a passenger. The HD-15 was used late 1928 for catapult experiments on board of the ship ‘Bremen’. These trials were very important for later civil mail flights where a catapult ship was also used, but the HD-15 was not used operationally. Only one HD-15 was built, carrying the registration D-1237. However, for the Sowjet Union an improved version with a more powerful 600 hp Siemens radial engine and backwards folding wings was built in 1930 as the He-55. In total 40 were supplied to the Sowjet navy, where it was further indicated as the KR-1. A further characteristic of the KR-1 was that it could also operate from land during the winter using two snow skids mounted beneath the hull.

Picture of the first flying boat from Heinkel; the HD-15.

Related posts:

1. German flying boats Part 2: 1935-2000
2. Dutch flying boats and amphibians
3. French flying boats and amphibians
4. Dornier Do-28 amphibian for the MLD
5. Vanneau history

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