Blohm & Voss Ha 139

Blohm & Voss Ha 139
Ha 139 Nordwind in 1938
Role	mail/cargo plane
Manufacturer	Blohm & Voss
First flight	October 1936
Introduction	1937
Primary user	Deutsche Luft Hansa
Produced	1936–1938
Number built	3
Variants	Blohm & Voss BV 142

The Blohm & Voss Ha 139 was a German all-metal inverted gull wing floatplane. With its four engines it was at the time one of the largest float-equipped seaplanes that had been built. The inboard engines were mounted at the joint between the inboard anhedral and outboard dihedral wing sections, above the pylon-mounted floats.

Further development of the Ha 139 led to the land based version Blohm & Voss BV 142 which had its first flight in October 1938.

Operational history

A Ha 139 on board the catapult ship Friesenland.

The aircraft were flown by Deutsche Luft Hansa on transatlantic routes between 1937 and 1939, predominately between Bathurst, The Gambia and Natal, Brazil. Catapult-launched from an aircraft tender they were able to transport 500 kg of mail over a distance of up to 5,000 km.

On the outbreak of World War II, the planes were transferred to Luftwaffe and used for transport, reconnaissance and minesweeping work over the Baltic Sea. They were not particularly suited for military use.

Aircraft build

Ha 139 Nordstern leaving the Friesenland in 1938.

• Ha 139 V1, named Nordwind

First of two baseline prototypes

• Ha 139 V2, named Nordmeer

Second of two baseline prototypes

• Ha 139 V3 (also Ha 139B), named Nordstern

Third prototype with longer wingspan, increased wing area and modified engine mounts. This aircraft was converted into a reconnaissance aircraft (Ha 139 V3/U1) and later into a minesweeping aircraft. The minesweeping conversion was redesignated Ha 139B/MS.

Specifications (Ha 139)

Model of the third prototype in Minensuch (minesweeper) configuration at Museum of Flight

General characteristics

• Crew: 4-5
• Length: 19.5 m (64 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 27 m (88 ft 7 in)
• Height: 4.4 m (14 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 117.5 m² (1,265 ft²)
• Empty weight: 10,340 kg (22,790 lb)
• Loaded weight: 17,460 kg (38,500 lb)
• Powerplant: 4 × Junkers Jumo 205 diesel, 440 kW (592 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 307 km/h (191 mph)
• Range: 4,990 km (3,100 mi)
• Service ceiling: 3,690 m (12,100 ft)
• Rate of climb: 170 m/min (550 ft/min)

See also

Related lists

• List of seaplanes and amphibious aircraft
  

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Green, William. Warplanes of the Third Reich. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 4th impression 1979, p. 78-80. ISBN 0-356-02382-6.
• Smith J.Richard and Kay, Anthony. German Aircraft of the Second World War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 3rd impression 1978, p. 63-66. ISBN 0-370-00024-2.
• Wood, Tony and Gunston, Bill. Hitler's Luftwaffe: A pictorial history and technical encyclopedia of Hitler's air power in World War II. London: Salamander Books Ltd., 1977, p. 133. ISBN 0-86101-005-1.

External links

• "Sixteen Ton Plane to Link U.S. and Germany" Popular Mechanics, May 1937