MAQUETTE À MONTER - Henschel Hs 129B-2 Hasegawa | N° 09071 | 1:48

Characteristics

Description

The Hs129 was developed as a ground attack aircraft. The prototype Hs129V1 made its maiden flight in May 1939. Subsequently, the Luftwaffe placed an order for the first production run of Hs129A-0 machines, but it was found that the engines of these aircraft produced insufficient horsepower for satisfactory operational performance. As it seemed there was little chance that the performance of the production run engines could be improved, the Luftwaffe cancelled the order and the Hs129 project was temporarily shelved. The aircraft, however, was eventually saved by the adoption of Gnome-Rhone 14M rotary engines that fell into German hands upon the occupation of France in 1940.

With the new engines installed, the performance of the aircraft increased dramatically. The second production run, known as the Hs129B-0, featured the Gnome Rhone engines and a pilot canopy of new design significantly increasing the poor visibility afforded by the cramped cockpit of the earlier Hs129 models.

Production continued with the Hs129B-1 and the upgunned Hs129B-2 types. The original fixed armament (Data) Hs129B-2/R2 Crew: one; wingspan: 14.20m; length: 9.75m; height: 3.25m; maximum takeoff weight: 5,250kg; engine: Gnome-Rhone 14M04 (right hand rotation) / 14M05 (counter-rotated to balance out propeller torque effects) 700hp x 2; takeoff; top speed: 350km/h at 2,000m; armament: MG131 13mm machine gun x 2, MG151 20mm cannon x 2, MK101 30mm cannon x 1 or MK103 30mm cannon x 1 (MK101 30mm cannon data) weight: 180kg; rate of fire: 260rds/min (MK103 30mm cannon data) weight: 140kg; rate of fire: 420rds/min

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