CASA 2.111

The CASA 2.111 was a medium bomber derived from the Heinkel He 111 and produced in Spain under license by Construcciones Aeronáuticas S.A.. The 2.111 models differed significantly from Heinkel's original design, featuring heavier armament and eventually Rolls Royce Merlin engines.

Designa and development

Following the Spanish Civil War, in 1937 the Spanish Air Force received a number of He 111Bs from Germany, which had begun to receive the improved He 111D model, receiving He 111Es following the end of the war. There was a need for more modern aircraft, however, so in 1940 CASA negotiated a contract with Heinkel to produce 200 examples of the newer He 111 H-16 in Seville. Setting up production was slow, with relatively little support received from Germany as World War II continued. Spain managed to locate a store of Jumo 211F-2 engines in France, and this allowed completion of 130 Jumo powered examples (although only 117 were delivered owing to the need of cannibalise engines). These were in three versions : the 2.111A, a medium bomber; the 2.111C, a reconnaissance bomber; and the 2.111F, a dual-control trainer.

Operational history

The first Spanish built aircraft flew on 23 May 1945.Following the end of the war, access to the German-built Junkers engines became an issue, and CASA found an alternative with the Rolls-Royce Merlin 500. In 1953, 173 Merlin engines were ordered. The newly Merlin-powered bombers and reconnaissance bombers became the 2.111B and 2.111D, respectively; some were re-engined, while others were built new. A nine-passenger transport, the 2.111T8, was also developed and produced. Spanish 2.111s served into the late 1960s and, in the case of the transports, early 1970s. Many of the aircraft retired in the 1960s found second lives in movies such as Battle of Britain and Patton, due to the family resemblance with Heinkel He 111s.

The CASA 2.111 were used in combat in the close air support role against Moroccans during the Ifni War in 1957-1958.

Survivors

Approximately 14 Spanish licensed built CASA 2.111s survive today in various conditions on display or storage. One modified Spanish 2.111D served as a transport for Spanish VIPs, including General Francisco Franco, before being purchased in England by the Commemorative Air Force in 1977. It remained the last He 111 in flyable condition until 10 July 2003, when it was destroyed in a fatal crash landing. The aircraft was attempting a landing at the Cheyenne Municipal Airport, near Cheyenne, Wyoming, while en route from Midland, Texas to an air show in Missoula, Montana. Eyewitness reports indicate the aircraft lost power to one engine on final approach and ploughed through a chain link fence before colliding with a school bus washing building under construction. Killed were CAF pilot Neil R. Stamp and co-pilot Charles S. Bates.

Specifications (2.111B)

Data from Deutsches Museum

General characteristics

• Crew: 5
• Length: 16.4 m (54 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 22.5 m (74 ft 3 in)
• Height: 3.9 m (13 ft 9 in)
• Wing area: 86.5 m² (942 ft²)
• Max takeoff weight: 14,000 kg (30,860 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Merlin 500-29 liquid-cooled V12 engines, 1,600 hp (1,176 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 440 km/h (238 knots, 273 mph) at 4,500 m (14,760 ft)
• Range: 1,950 km (1,050 nm, 1,210 mi)
• Service ceiling: 7,800 m (25,590 ft)

See also

• Heinkel He 111

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Cruz, Gonzalo Avila. "Homegrown 'Pedros': Spanish-Built Heinkel He 111s: Part One-Jumo Variants". Air Enthusiast, No. 90, November/December 2000. Stamford, UK:Key Publishing, pp. 48–53. ISSN 0143-5450.
• Cruz, Gonzalo Avila. "Homegrown 'Pedros': Spanish-Built Heinkel He 111s: Part Two-Merlin Variants". Air Enthusiast, No. 91, January/February 2001. Stamford, UK:Key Publishing, pp. 8–18. ISSN 0143-5450.
• Lambert, C.M. "Handling the Spanish Heinkel 111". Flight, 17 August 1956, pp. 247–248.

External links

• Photo CASA 2.111

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