Henschel Hs 130 The Henschel Hs 130 was a German high - altitude reconnaissance and bomber aircraft developed in World War II , but never used operationally due to various mechanical faults . Development . 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 601 s and the V2 by Junkers Jumo 210 s . 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 " Luftwaffe " s 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 . Three prototype aircraft Hs 130 As were built , the first flying on 23 May 1940 . Five pre - production Hs 130A - 0 ' s followed , being delivered in early 1941 , and featured DB 601 R engines - each with a single - stage supercharger , retractable landing gear , and a bay in the rear to house two Rb75 / 30 cameras for reconnaissance . The five Hs 130A - 0s subsequently underwent trials and testing , which revealed significant problems with the aircraft performance , and reliability problems which prevented operational use . Two further modified Hs 130A - 0s was produced under the designation Hs 130A - 0 / U6 and featured a greater wingspan , DB 605 B engines , Hirth superchargers , GM - 1 nitrous oxide power boosting , and under - wing drop tanks , and being ready for flight testing in November 1943 , demonstrating an absolute ceiling of 15 , 500 m ( 50 , 570 ft ) . The Hs 130A - 0 / U6 variant as well as the other Hs 130A - 0s proved unsatisfactory and were never flown operationally . Further development of the Hs 130 led to bomber variants . The planned Hs 130B was almost the same as the Hs 130A , but with a bomb bay in place of the camera bay , but was never built . The Hs 130C was built as a competitor for the " Bomber B " project , and was very different from the Hs 130A , featuring a shorter wing span , remotely - controlled defensive armament , a more extensively glazed ( but still pressurized ) cabin and up to 4 , 000 kg ( 8 , 800 lb ) of bombs . Three prototypes , V1 , V2 , and V3 were built , with V1 and V2 were powered by BMW 801 radials , and V3 , featuring full armament by DB 603 A engines . 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 . 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 . Such a system had first been tried some twenty - five years previously , on the R . 30 / 16 example of the Zeppelin - Staaken R . VI bomber , with the supercharger in it powered by a Mercedes D . II engine . Another difference from the Hs 130A was the nose , which was extended forward to offset the weight of the HZ - Anlage engine in the fuselage . Also underwing fuel tanks could be fitted to provide fuel for three engines , and air scoops were fitted under the fuselage to supply the fuselage engine . Three prototype Hs 130Es were built ; Hs 130E V1 first flew in September 1942 , and could reach 12 , 500 m ( 41 , 010 ft ) when HZ - Anlage was employed . Hs 130E V2 , first flown in November 1942 , was lost on its seventh flight due to an engine fire ; V3 was built to replace it . 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 .