PR He 100 (1 Viewer)

It is often argued that the He 100D-1 was too small to be a very useful fighter for the LW. However, what if one stripped out the armament, polished everything, added as much fuel as possible and put a camera into the rear fuselage? Could it have caused the RAF problems until they had the Spitfire XIV?

cherry blossom said:

However, what if one stripped out the armament, polished everything, added as much fuel as possible and put a camera into the rear fuselage?

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Probably the most expedient way to have an actually useful military aircraft from the He 100.

cherry blossom said:

It is often argued that the He 100D-1 was too small to be a very useful fighter for the LW. However, what if one stripped out the armament, polished everything, added as much fuel as possible and put a camera into the rear fuselage? Could it have caused the RAF problems until they had the Spitfire XIV?

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I don't trust speeds quoted for prototype aircraft. Was the aircraft actually combat ready? Was it running fuel available to actual combat units? Okay, a photo reconnaissance aircraft is not supposed to be shot at, so they can keep using the wing-skin radiators. Where do the large gas tanks go? On reconnaissance Spitfires, they went in the leading edges of the wings in place of the armament.

The DB601 was no better at altitude than the contemporary Merlins.


The He100 was marginally lighter than a Bf109. As a prototype flying in 1939/1940, you need to compare it with Vought Corsairs, Lockheed P-38s, and Hawker Typhoons. The things reach service in 1941. Aerodynamically, the Bf109E was a brick. The Bf109F went much faster (then the Bf109E) on the same engine, and required much less retooling.

Nobody writing about the He100 mentions the possibility of a radial engined alternative.

Howard Gibson said:

Where do the large gas tanks go? On reconnaissance Spitfires, they went in the leading edges of the wings in place of the armament.

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One possibility are indeed the wings of the He 100.

Howard Gibson said:

The He100 was marginally lighter than a Bf109. As a prototype flying in 1939/1940, you need to compare it with Vought Corsairs, Lockheed P-38s, and Hawker Typhoons. The things reach service in 1941.

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Prototype He 100s were flying already in 1938, so having a PR version in service by 1940 is not too much to ask. There is no need to compare the He 100 of 1940 with either of these aircraft.

Howard Gibson said:

Aerodynamically, the Bf109E was a brick. The Bf109F went much faster (then the Bf109E) on the same engine, and required much less retooling.

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The Bf 109F is too late for 1940, and LW + the Axis needs all of these they can lay their hand on once available.

Howard Gibson said:

Nobody writing about the He100 mentions the possibility of a radial engined alternative.

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Not with the German engines of the ww2.
Might've worked with Japanese.