Development of the Hs 130 began with two
Hs 128 prototypes, which first flew on 11 April 1939, with the second prototype flying on 20 February 1940. Both prototypes were research aircraft, used for testing
pressurized cabins,
engine superchargers, and
cantilever wings. Different engines powered the two prototypes; the V1 by
Daimler-Benz DB 601s and the V2 by
Junkers Jumo 210s. Both had fixed
landing gear. While trials of the two prototypes were not successful, the potential of a high altitude aircraft caught the attention of
Theodor Rowehl, commander of the
Luftwaffes special reconnaissance unit. Rowehl's interest in the Hs 128's potential for high-altitude reconnaissance missions led
Reich Air Ministry to instruct Henschel to continue development of the Hs 128 as a reconnaissance aircraft under the designation
Hs 130A. Two further modified Hs 130A-0s was produced under the designation
Hs 130A-0/U6 and featured a greater wingspan,
DB 605B engines,
Hirth superchargers,
GM-1 nitrous oxide power boosting, and under-wing drop tanks, and being ready for flight testing in November 1943, The three prototypes were flown in 1942-43 to compete with the
Dornier Do 317,
Focke-Wulf Fw 191 and
Junkers Ju 288 bombers, but production plans were abandoned. Further development of the Hs 130 as a reconnaissance aircraft continued with the
Hs 130D, which was planned to have DB 605 engines and a complex two-stage supercharger, but was again unbuilt.
Centrally-provided supercharging experiments The
Hs 130E was a re-working of the Hs 130A with the
Höhen Zentrale (HZ)-Anlage system in place of conventional superchargers. HZ-Anlage installed a third engine in the fuselage, a DB 605T, the only purpose of which was to power a large supercharger to supply air to the wing-mounted DB 603B engines. An order for seven pre-production
Hs 130E-0s followed, first flying in May 1943, together with a production order was placed for 100
Hs 130E-1s which were to have a remotely controlled defensive armament and provisions for underwing bombs. The order was cancelled due to continuing problems suffered by the Hs 130E-0's HZ-Anlange system. An
Hs 130F was planned, which was hoped to solve the problems with HZ-Anlage, by using four supercharged BMW 801 engines, but was never built. == Specifications (Hs 130E-0) ==