The Heinkel He 70 Blitz (Lightning) stands as one of the most aerodynamically refined aircraft of the early 1930s — a machine that redefined what was possible in high-speed civil and military aviation. This collection brings together the essential technical documentation for the He 70 F variant, alongside rare NACA reports and original German-language materials, forming a comprehensive archival resource for historians, researchers, and aviation enthusiasts. For a deeper historical overview, visit our dedicated article: Heinkel He 70 Blitz – The Fastest Passenger Plane of the 1930s.

Definitive Collection with Free Lifetime Updates: This is a living collection that we continuously expand and refine. As we acquire additional Heinkel He 70 documentation, technical bulletins, or variant-specific materials, we update this collection and provide free lifetime updates to all purchasers. Your one-time purchase guarantees access to all future additions and improvements to this collection.

Historical Note

Designed by brothers Siegfried and Walter Günter and first flown in December 1932, the Heinkel He 70 Blitz was a revolutionary aircraft for its era. Developed for Lufthansa as a fast mail and passenger aircraft, it was built around a philosophy of extreme aerodynamic cleanliness — flush rivets, a retractable undercarriage, a retractable radiator, and a beautifully streamlined oval-section duralumin stressed-skin fuselage. The elliptical wing, which provided exceptional lift-to-drag ratios, would go on to directly influence the design of the Supermarine Spitfire and the Japanese Aichi D3A Val.

In 1933, the He 70 set eight world speed records, demonstrating the effectiveness of its design philosophy. Powered initially by a BMW VI 7.3 Z V-12 liquid-cooled engine producing 750 PS (740 hp), it achieved a maximum speed of 360–377 km/h (224–234 mph) — faster than most contemporary fighters. The cooling system used ethylene glycol rather than water, enabling a smaller, retractable radiator that further reduced drag at high speeds.

Military variants (He 70E/F) served with the Luftwaffe as light bombers and reconnaissance aircraft, and saw operational service during the Spanish Civil War with the Condor Legion. Export versions included the Hungarian He 170A, fitted with a Gnome-Rhône Mistral Major radial engine (WM-K-14) that pushed top speed to 435 km/h. The He 270V1 prototype tested a Daimler-Benz DB 601Aa engine. The He 70’s design legacy extended far beyond its own production run, serving as a direct template for the Heinkel He 111 bomber.

Today, a small number of He 70s survive in museums, and the sole airworthy example — G-ADZF — continues to fly in the UK, finished in its distinctive red and cream livery. Read the full story on our blog: Heinkel He 70 Blitz – The Fastest Passenger Plane of the 1930s.

Manuals Included in This Collection

Variant F

• He 70 F Aircraft Handbook (Flugzeug-Handbuch)
• He 70 F-2 Aircraft Handbook – Flugzeug-Handbuches (German Language)
• He 70 F Operating Instructions
• He 70 F – Short Operating Instructions, Kurzbetriebsanleitung (German Language)

Technical Reports & Certificates

• Heinkel He 70 – NACA Aircraft Circular No. 183 (1933, English Language)

Slides, Photos and Brochures

• He 70 Aircraft Illustrative Slideshow: Fast Passenger and Mail Plane – Bildstreifen (German Language)

This collection spans the He 70 F variant in depth, covering airframe handling, operating procedures, and performance data, complemented by the authoritative NACA Circular No. 183 — one of the earliest English-language technical assessments of the type — and a rare original German illustrative slideshow from the production era.

Engineering Norms and Standards

• Airframe Construction: All-metal stressed-skin (duralumin) fuselage with oval cross-section; flush riveting throughout for aerodynamic cleanliness. Structure built in three main sections: nose, center, and tail, with an armored firewall and tubular engine mount.
• Wing Design: Elliptical planform providing superior lift-to-drag ratio; low-mounted configuration with retractable main undercarriage (tail wheel fixed).
• Cooling System: Ethylene glycol liquid cooling with retractable underfuselage radiator — a significant engineering innovation for the period.
• Military Specifications: He 70E/F military variants armed with one 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun; bomb load capacity of six 50 kg or twenty-four 10 kg bombs.
• Performance Data (He 70F-2): Maximum speed 377 km/h (234 mph) at altitude; cruising speed 295 km/h (183 mph); range 1,820–2,100 km; service ceiling 5,300–6,000 m (17,390–20,000 ft); wing area 36.50 m²; empty weight 2,360 kg; loaded weight 3,386 kg.
• NACA Documentation: Design, construction, and comparative analysis documented in NACA Technical Memorandum No. 746 (1934) and NACA Aircraft Circular No. 183 (1933).

Format and Delivery

All documents are delivered as high-resolution digital PDF files, available for immediate download upon purchase. Files are optimized for both on-screen reading and high-quality printing, and are compatible with all standard PDF readers on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.

Disclaimer

All documents in this collection are provided for historical research and reference purposes only. They do not constitute airworthiness authority or current maintenance guidance. Always consult current regulatory authorities and type certificate holders for operational aircraft. Trade names and designations are the property of their respective owners. Copyright © Sicuro Publishing.