The Birth of the Caspar S.1
In 1921, the German aircraft designer Ernst Heinkel left the “Hansa und Brandenburg” firm and moved to Caspar-Werke AG. There, he focused on developing a new seaplane, the Caspar S.1. Heinkel based his design on the well-proven Hansa-Brandenburg W.29.
Production Under the Treaty of Versailles
Since the Treaty of Versailles prohibited Germany from building military aircraft and planes with powerful engines, Caspar-Werke AG produced only the aircraft parts. Final assembly was carried out in Sweden at the Svenska Aero AB factory starting in 1922.
The first units, with serial numbers 31 and 32, were purchased by the Swedish Navy as reconnaissance aircraft and received the designation S.2. Several Caspar S.1 examples were also sold to civilian firms in Norway and Finland.
Legacy and Transformation
By May 1922, Heinkel had already left Caspar-Werke AG and founded his own company, Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke AG, in Warnemünde. Production of the S.1 continued with minor modifications at the new firm, but under the new designation HE.1.
Technical Specifications
| Modification | Caspar S.1 |
| Wingspan, m | 18.00 |
| Length, m | 13.20 |
| Wing area, m2 | 52.30 |
| Normal takeoff weight, kg | 2380 |
| Engine type | 1 Piston engine Maybach Mb IVa |
| Power, hp | 1 x 240 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 170 |
| Cruising speed, km/h | 150 |
| Crew | 2 crew |
Image gallery of the Caspar S.1
