MÁVAG Héja
| Héja | |
|---|---|
| |
| MÁVAG Héja-II | |
| Role | Fighter |
| Manufacturer | MÁVAG |
| First flight | 1940 |
| Introduction | 1941 |
| Retired | 1945 |
| Primary user | Royal Hungarian Air Force |
| Number built | 192 |
| Developed from | Reggiane Re.2000 |
The MÁVAG Héja ("Hawk") was a Hungarian fighter based on the Reggiane Re 2000.
History
In December 1939, Hungary purchased 70 Reggiane Re.2000 fighters from Italy. They were delivered to the Hungarian firm Magyar Királyi Állami Vas-, Acél- és Gépgyárak (Royal Hungarian State Iron, Steel and Machine Works) and were modified into the MÁVAG Héja I (Goshawk I). The original Piaggio P.XI engines were replaced by the Hungarian-built Manfred Weiss WM K-14 that drove a Hamilton Standard three-bladed, constant-speed propeller. The WM K-14 was a licensed copy of the French Gnome-Rhône 14K engine that necessitated a 1-foot 3-inch lengthening of the fighters’ forward fuselage, due to a shift in the center of gravity from the lighter engine. Oddly enough, the Piaggio engine was itself a copy of the Gnome-Rhône 14K, but it wasn't as reliable as the original.
A decision was soon made to produce more Héja fighters under licenses in Hungary as the MÁVAG Héja II (Goshawk II). The new Héja II was entirely Hungarian with locally produced airframes, engines and armament. The new fighter differed from the Reggiane fighter in a number of ways. Armament was changed to 2 × 0.50 inch (12.7 mm) Gebauer fixed forward-firing guns in the upper nose with 300 rounds each. Length was 27 ft 6.25 inch (8.39 m), and max level speed was 301 mph (485 km/h) at 13,780 ft (4,200 m). Endurance was 2 hours and 30 minutes. The first MÁVAG Héja II took to the air on October 30, 1942, and in total MÁVAG built a further 203 Héja's for the Royal Hungarian Air Force. The last machine was completed on August 1, 1944 when production ceased.
Operational history
The Kingdom of Hungary was allied to Nazi Germany during World war II. At least one Hungarian squadron flew the MÁVAG Héja I/II in combat on the Eastern Front. However, most Héja's operated inside Hungary in an air defense role or as a trainer.
In September 1942, personal tragedy struck the Hungarian Regent Miklos Horthy. 37-year-old István Horthy, Horthy's eldest son, was killed. István Horthy was the Deputy Regent of Hungary and a Flight Lieutenant in the reserves, 1/1 Fighter Squadron of the Royal Hungarian Air Force. He was killed when his Héja fighter signed "V.421" crashed at an air field near Ilovskoye.
Operators
- Royal Hungarian Air Force
- 2 Vadászszázad based at Szolnok
- Szazad Heja
- 1/2.Szazad 'Keresztes pok
- 2/1.Szazad 'Keresztes pok
- 1/1.Vadaszszazad
- 2/1.Vadaszszazad
- 1/1.Szazad Dongo
Specifications (Héja II)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
Performance
Armament
- Guns: Two fixed forward-firing 12.7 mm (0.50 inch) Gebauer motor-drived machine guns in the fuselage nose
Avionics