Heinkel HD 55

HD 55, KR-1
Role	Reconnaissance flying boat Type of aircraft
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Heinkel
First flight	1929
Primary user	Soviet Navy
Number built	approximately 40

The Heinkel HD 55 was a

The HD 55 came about as a result of a meeting between Heinkel and Soviet officials in May 1929, leading to a contract for 15 such aircraft, and two pneumatic catapults similar to the type Heinkel had developed to launch the HE 12 mail plane from the Bremen, although this order was substantially increased as time went by. In Soviet service, the designation KR-1 was used (корабельный разведчик - Korabelniy Razvedchik - "Shipboard Reconnaissance").

The first catapult was installed on the battleship

 Soviet Union

• Soviet Naval Aviation

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: Two, pilot and gunner
• Length: 10.35 m (34 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 14.00 m (45 ft 11 in)
• Height: 4.28 m (14 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 56.9 m² (612 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 1,520 kg (3,350 lb)
• Gross weight: 2,270 kg (5,000 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 ×
  Siemens-Halske Sh 20
  , 360 kW (480 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 194 km/h (120 mph, 100 kn)
• Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 4,800 m (15,800 ft)

Armament

• 1 × fixed, forward-firing 7.62 mm (.30 in) PV-1 machine gun
• 2 × trainable, rearward-firing 7.62 mm
  DA machine guns

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heinkel HD 55.

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 499.