Modell of the month

Model of the month Juli 2025

For connoisseurs only ... The Heinkel He 280

From original to model

The more than 1,000 scale models, primarily of the international standards 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32, are an independent part of the collections of the Hanover-Laatzen Aviation Museum.

Such true-to-original miniatures allow viewers of museum technology history to gain an ‘overview’, not only of the individual exhibit (sometimes even as the only possibility of a real three-dimensional display if there is no surviving original), but also of the lines of development of aircraft construction through possible sequencing and juxtaposition. Sometimes they even close gaps in the presentation of the originals. The quality of their craftsmanship alone is a pleasure to behold.

Today, in our “Model of the Month” series, we are presenting a real milestone in aircraft design: the Heinkel He 280 of 1941, the first twin-engine jet aircraft and the first fighter aircraft in the world to be designed with this type of propulsion, as well as the first with an ejection seat - and incidentally the first German aircraft with nose landing gear. And as incredible as it sounds: Almost only known in specialist circles...

The models

In its model showcases in Hall 2, the Aviation Museum presents various miniatures of the type in the scales 1/72 and 1/48. The classic kit in the former reduction came from the Hanau-based company HUMA in the early 1990s: all versions of the type could be built with it, the detailing and decal set of the kit were of high quality (it's fair to say: we miss this small and fine manufacturer from Hessen!).

The 1/48 model in the theme show on fast flight was built from the highly detailed Eduard kit by Hans Stockmann, Porta Westfalica and shows the V2 of the first flight on 30 March 1941.

The original

In June and August 1939, Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke in Rostock flew the first rocket aeroplane in aviation history with the He 176 and the first jet aeroplane in aviation history with the He 178. The two small single-seater test aircraft for new propulsion systems were recognized by the Reich Aviation Ministry (RLM), but nothing more. The signs were pointing to war and the focus was on the armaments production of tested systems. Basic research and pioneering work were of no interest in Berlin at that time.

The mutual antipathy between the ingenious designer, entrepreneur and mentor on the one hand and the National Socialists on the other undoubtedly also contributed to the negligent assessment of Heinkel's achievements at the RLM.

Immense power

But Ernst Heinkel did not give up. In order to demonstrate the immense power of the new jet engine, developed by engineer H.J. Pabst von Ohain, he had a revolutionary fighter aircraft created with Project 280 - like other designs by Heinkel, who was born in Württemberg/Germany, this aircraft was groundbreaking for aircraft construction as a whole with a wealth of technical innovations - even though there were only to be a few prototypes of it.

And while various turbine models, including the Heinkel S 8, Junkers Jumo 004 and BMW 003, were still under development, flight testing of the He 280 with dummy engines had already begun, initially in towing and gliding flight. On 30 March 1941, the 2nd prototype made its successful maiden flight with the Heinkel HeS 8 A engines. The conventionally designed airframe, an all-metal centre wing monoplane with straight leading and elliptical trailing edges, flowing fuselage lines and double vertical stabilisers, was a success, but the new type of engine unsurprisingly remained the problem child of the design. The Heinkel S 8 engines under the wings did not fully achieve the resilience and operational reliability required for heavy-duty use. And the more sophisticated alternative engines could not be optimally installed in the airframe at a later date.

Nevertheless, all available turbine models were gradually tested in the only eight He 280 airframes produced, with varying degrees of success, while comparative flights initiated by Heinkel with the most powerful German piston engine fighters, above all the Focke Wulf 190 A, proved the superiority of his design with its turbine air-jet propulsion. The RLM finally bowed to the facts and released a production order for an initial 300 units in 1942 - only to withdraw it almost immediately after the Messerschmitt Me 262 had flown - the ‘Zwozwoundsechzig’ with its swept wings and optimised Jumo 004 engines, more powerful armament and full-view canopy was in fact superior to the He 280 and became the first jet fighter in aviation history to be built and used in large-scale production, while the ‘original’ disappeared from general perception.

Nevertheless, the basic configuration of Willy Messerschmitt's brilliant design was based on the design by Ernst Heinkel and his team. And to this day, the largely unknown He 280 can be considered the blueprint for all multi-engine jets and all jet fighters: a case for the aviation museum...

Data sheet of the He 280 V 3 (prototype aircraft of the projected series A)

Length 10.40 m, wingspan 12.20 m, take-off mass 4,300 kg, propulsion 2 x Heinkel HeS 8 A with 750 kp static thrust each (also tested: Jumo 004, BMW 003, AS 014), top speed 750 km/h, range approx. 650 km, armament 3 x MG 151/20 (2 cm-MK), crew 1.

Welcome!

Have we been able to arouse your curiosity about our collections of over 40 original and faithful replicas of gliders, light aircraft, commercial and military aircraft, just as many engines and hundreds of items of equipment as well as our model collection? Then we look forward to your visit to Ulmer Straße at the Hannover Exhibition Centre: See you there!

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You can contact the author of the Model of the Month series here: Autor-MdM