Hirth HM 60 — Engine Manuals Collection
A curated archival collection of primary-source technical documents covering the Hirth HM 60 inverted inline aircraft engine and its refined HM 60 R / HM 60 R-2 variant — the compact, fuel-efficient powerplant that trained a generation of pilots across interwar Europe.
Collection Overview
Total Unique Manuals: 4
Variants covered: R
Variant R — 4 Manuals
HM 60 R Operating and Maintenance
- HM 60 R/2 Aircraft Engine Operating Manual, Betriebshandbuch (German Language)
HM 60 R Engine Subsystems
- SUM Type IFH Carburetor for Argus As 8, As 10, Hirth HM 60 and HM 60 R Aircraft Engines — Description Manual, Beschreibung (German Language)
HM 60 R Brochures & Training
- HM 60 R Aircraft Engine Brochure, Prospekt (German Language)
- HM 60 R-2 Aircraft Engine Brochure, Prospekt (German Language)
No-Variant Manual — 1 Document
HM 60 Engine Subsystems
- SUM Type IFH Carburetor for Argus As 8, As 10, Hirth HM 60 and HM 60 R Aircraft Engines — Description Manual, Beschreibung (German Language)
Note on Multi-Variant Manuals: Some manuals apply to multiple variants. To ensure easier access and better usability, files are included in each relevant variant folder. The total number of manuals refers to unique files and does not include repeated copies across folders.
About the Hirth HM 60
Historical Background
First introduced in 1931 (with experimental runs dating to 1923), the HM 60 was developed by Hirth Motoren GmbH under the vision of Hellmuth Hirth. It powered primary trainers including the Klemm Kl 25, Klemm Kl 35, Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann, and Heinkel He 71, serving as a cornerstone powerplant for Luftwaffe cadet training through the mid-to-late 1930s. Production ran from 1931 into the early 1940s.
Technical Specifications
- Type: Inverted inline, air-cooled piston engine
- Configuration: 4-cylinder
- Displacement: 3.6 L (219.68 cu in)
- Bore × Stroke: 100 mm × 115 mm
- Power Output: 60–80 hp (base vs. R variant)
- Compression Ratio: 5.8:1
- Dry Weight: 92 kg (202.8 lbs)
- Fuel: 72–80 octane aviation/auto gasoline
Engineering Distinction: The Hirth Built-Up Crankshaft
The HM 60's defining feature is its Hirth-coupling built-up crankshaft — assembled from individual journals and crank arms joined by precision interlocking radial serrations and an internal differential bolt. This design allowed the use of high-capacity roller bearings throughout, dramatically reducing friction, heat, and oil consumption (approximately 0.5 L per 10 flight hours). It is the reason the engine is both remarkable and notoriously difficult to restore today.
Current Status
The HM 60 is no longer in active airworthiness service. No active Type Certificate holder exists; the original company dissolved post-WWII. Surviving examples are preserved in institutions including the Technical Museum in Vienna and the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków. No active Service Bulletins or Airworthiness Directives apply.
This is an archival, static-copy edition fixed at its original publication date. Intended for historical reference, flight simulation, museum restoration, and educational use only. Not approved for active airworthiness maintenance under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13, EASA Part-M, or equivalent international regulations. Operators of active aircraft must use current, revision-controlled publications from the Type Certificate holder or an authorized distributor.
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