Heinkel He 70 Blitz

The Heinkel He 70 Blitz ("lightning") was a fast monoplane aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Heinkel Flugzeugwerke. It was the first Schnellbomber operated by the Luftwaffe.

Development of the He 70 began in the early 1930s in response to a request from Deutsche Lufthansa for a fast mail plane. Heinkel designed a low-wing cantilever monoplane with various measures to minimise drag, including an aerodynamically efficient elliptical wing, a smooth external finish, and a retractable undercarriage. The He 70 was powered by a single BMW VI 7.3 Z engine and cooled by a compact retractable radiator as a further drag-reducing measure. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 1 December 1932 and set eight separate world speed records over the following months.

The He 70 was adopted by Deutsche Lufthansa in 1934, although its commercial career was relatively brief before it was replaced by larger and more capable aircraft. In addition to its civilian use, the He 70 was adapted for military purposes, as a light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. Militarised versions were operated by the Royal Hungarian Air Force and the Ejército del Aire. The type was already relegated to secondary roles, such as training, by the outbreak of the Second World War. The He 70 is perhaps best known as being an ancestor to the Heinkel He 111, which had a similar elliptical wing.