Ernst Heinkel
Dr. Ernst Heinkel | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 30 January 1958 | (aged 70)
Occupation(s) | German aircraft designer and manufacturer |
Awards | German National Prize for Art and Science (1938) |
Dr. Ernst Heinkel (24 January 1888 – 30 January 1958) was a
Early life
Heinkel was born in Grunbach, today a part of
Albatros Flugzeugwerke
Soon afterwards, he got a job at
Heinkel-Flugzeugwerke
In 1921, Heinkel was appointed head designer of the recently re-established Caspar-Werke, but soon left after a dispute over ownership of a design. In 1922 he established the Heinkel-Flugzeugwerke company at Warnemünde. Due to the restrictions placed on German aircraft manufacturing by the Treaty of Versailles, Heinkel looked overseas for contracts, with some seaplane designs being licence-built in Sweden and working on catapult-launched seaplanes for the Imperial Japanese Navy. He installed a similar catapult on the ocean liner Bremen for launching mail planes.
Versailles Treaty violations
Between 1921 and 1924, the Japanese government placed several orders with Heinkel's company, and helped him skirt the
1933-1945
After Adolf Hitler came to power, designs by Heinkel's firm formed a vital part of the Luftwaffe's growing strength in the years leading up to the Second World War. This included the Heinkel He 59, the Heinkel He 115 and the Heinkel He 111. He was designated a Wehrwirtschaftführer (~ defence industry leader) by the German government for his commitment to rearmament.
Heinkel was passionate about high-speed flight, and was keen on exploring alternative forms of aircraft propulsion. He donated aircraft to Wernher von Braun who was investigating rocket propulsion for aircraft, as well as sponsoring the research of Hans von Ohain into turbojet engines, leading to the flight of the Heinkel He 178, the first aircraft to fly solely under turbojet power, on August 27, 1939.
Heinkel had been a critic of Hitler's regime, having been forced to fire
In 1942 the government "nationalised" the Heinkel works. In practice, this meant that Heinkel was detained until he sold his controlling interest in his factories to
Post-war
In July 1945 Heinkel was captured by American troops and held for possible exploitation and/or possible trial under
With Germany forbidden from manufacturing aircraft by the Allies, Heinkel used his company's facilities to build private transportation. In 1953 Heinkel began production of the
Death and legacy
Ernst Heinkel died in 1958 in Stuttgart. His autobiography, Stürmisches Leben, was published in 1956 and translated into English as He1000 in its British edition and Stormy Life: Memoirs of a Pioneer of the Air Age in its US edition.
In 1981, Heinkel was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.[9]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-415-26038-1. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
- ISBN 978-1-57607-345-2. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
- ISBN 0-948414-76-6, p.5, 10
- ^ ISBN 978-0-415-34248-3. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-56347-520-7. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-262-56055-9. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
- ISBN 0-8133-3375-X, 9780813333755. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-253-34105-1. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
- ISBN 978-1-57864-397-4.
Sources
- Heinkel, Ernst (1956). He 1000. London, Great Britain: Hutchinson & Co.
- Warsitz, Lutz (2009). The First Jet Pilot - The Story of German Test Pilot Erich Warsitz. Pen and Sword Books. 9781844158188.English Edition