Hirth

Hirth is a German aircraft-engine manufacturer based in Benningen, Germany. Its origins lie in the engineering activities of Hellmuth Hirth, who established Versuchsbau Hellmuth Hirth and brought the four-cylinder HM 60 inverted in-line aircraft engine to commercial production in the 1920s. The HM 60 first ran in June 1923 and entered sales the following year. Its reputation for engineering quality provided the foundation for a broader range of air-cooled piston engines and helped establish Hirth as a significant German aero-engine producer during the interwar period. The business went through several organizational changes during its early development. Parts of the wider Hirth operation were associated with light-alloy production, including magnesium-alloy components marketed under the Elektron name. The light-alloy activities were eventually separated from aero-engine manufacturing and developed into Mahle GmbH, while the expanded aircraft-engine business was renamed Hirth Motoren GmbH in 1931. Hirth progressively extended the HM 60 architecture into six-, eight- and twelve-cylinder configurations, producing engines for a range of German aircraft applications. Hirth's history became closely connected with the German aviation industry during the Second World War. Hellmuth Hirth died in an aircraft accident in 1938. The German aviation ministry subsequently nationalized the company, and in 1942 it was taken over by Heinkel to form Heinkel-Hirth. The combined operation continued Hirth's piston-engine work and also supported Heinkel's experimental jet-engine program. Hirth facilities were involved in the development of engines associated with Hans von Ohain and Wilhelm Gundermann, including the Heinkel HeS 3B, which powered the Heinkel He 178 during the first flight of a jet aircraft in 1939. Several additional Heinkel-Hirth turbine concepts were developed, but the historical program did not lead to series production of those engines. After the war, restrictions on German aviation prevented Hirth from immediately returning to its previous aircraft-engine business. The company consequently produced small marine and stationary engines and motors for snowmobiles. Hirth later entered voluntary liquidation in the early 1970s. Hans Göbler acquired the business and continued the production of compact two-stroke engines under the Göbler-Hirth name, eventually reintroducing aero engines to the portfolio. In the modern period, Hirth has focused on small piston engines, particularly two-stroke powerplants for light aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and other specialized applications. The company has also worked on piston engines capable of using heavier aviation fuels, a capability relevant to unmanned systems because such fuels can offer logistical and handling advantages over gasoline in some operating environments. In 2018, Göbler-Hirth was acquired by UMS Skeldar, a joint venture involving Saab and UMS Aero Group. The business was renamed Hirth Engines GmbH. Hirth engines subsequently became associated with the Skeldar unmanned-aircraft range, alongside the company's established gasoline-fueled products. Hirth therefore combines a long German aero-engine heritage with a contemporary specialization in compact propulsion systems for light aviation and unmanned platforms.

Hirth originated with Hellmuth Hirth's engineering enterprise, Versuchsbau Hellmuth Hirth. Its first commercial aero engine was the HM 60, a four-cylinder inverted in-line engine that ran for the first time in June 1923 and was sold from 1924. The engine's quality and successful market reception enabled the company to expand its technical and manufacturing base. During the company's early growth, some Hirth activities were directed toward light-alloy production. The business used the Elektron name for magnesium-alloy materials and components, including parts applicable to aircraft engines. Those activities were separated from the aero-engine business and ultimately developed into Mahle GmbH. The aircraft-engine operation itself was renamed Hirth Motoren GmbH in 1931. Hirth expanded the HM 60 family with improved and higher-output derivatives. The HM 60R improved efficiency, while six-, eight- and twelve-cylinder variants extended the same general design approach to higher power levels. Before the Second World War, the manufacturer became one of Germany's leading aircraft-engine companies, producing air-cooled inverted in-line and inverted-V piston engines. The company's later history was shaped by the German state's wartime control of aviation manufacturing. Hellmuth Hirth died in an aircraft accident in 1938. The Reich aviation ministry nationalized the company, and Heinkel took it over in 1942, creating Heinkel-Hirth. Existing Hirth piston engines continued, but the facilities also became part of Heinkel's experimental turbine-engine work. Hans von Ohain, working with Heinkel and Wilhelm Gundermann, developed a series of experimental engines. The HeS 3B powered the Heinkel He 178 in 1939, generally recognized as the first flight by a jet aircraft. Other Heinkel-Hirth designs included the HeS 30, HeS 40, HeS 50, HeS 60 and HeS 011. Despite technical achievements, these designs did not enter production as operational series engines. After the war, restrictions placed on German aviation forced Hirth to diversify away from aircraft propulsion. The company produced small marine and stationary engines and motors for snowmobiles. It entered voluntary liquidation in the early 1970s. Hans Göbler then acquired the business and maintained a compact-engine operation under the Göbler-Hirth Motoren name. The company returned aero engines to its range and concentrated increasingly on small two-stroke designs. In the twenty-first century, Göbler-Hirth pursued propulsion for unmanned systems, including piston engines capable of operating on heavier fuels. In 2018, UMS Skeldar acquired the company. UMS Skeldar was a joint venture involving Saab and UMS Aero Group, with UMS holding the majority interest. The acquired business was renamed Hirth Engines GmbH. Its engines became associated with the Skeldar UAV family, while the company continued offering gasoline-fueled products and other compact propulsion systems for light aviation and specialized applications.

• 2018

  Acquisition and renaming as Hirth Engines GmbH

  [1]Hirthen.wikipedia.org

  UMS Skeldar acquired Göbler-Hirth, after which the company adopted the Hirth Engines GmbH name.

• 2011

  Heavy-fuel UAV engine development

  [1]Hirthen.wikipedia.org

  Göbler-Hirth was developing piston engines intended to operate on heavier fuel for unmanned aircraft.

• 1970

  Hirth enters voluntary liquidation

  [1]Hirthen.wikipedia.org

  The postwar company went into voluntary liquidation in the early 1970s.

• 1942

  Heinkel takes over Hirth

  [1]Hirthen.wikipedia.org

  The company was taken over by Heinkel after state nationalization and became part of Heinkel-Hirth.

• 1939

  HeS 3B powers the Heinkel He 178

  [1]Hirthen.wikipedia.org

  The Heinkel HeS 3B, developed through the Heinkel-Hirth program, powered the first jet aircraft flight.

• 1938

  Death of Hellmuth Hirth

  [1]Hirthen.wikipedia.org

  Company founder Hellmuth Hirth died in an aircraft accident.

• 1931

  Aircraft-engine business becomes Hirth Motoren GmbH

  [1]Hirthen.wikipedia.org

  The expanded aero-engine operation adopted the Hirth Motoren GmbH name.

• 1924

  HM 60 enters the market

  [1]Hirthen.wikipedia.org

  The HM 60 began commercial sales, giving the young company its foundational product.

• 1923

  HM 60 completes its first run

  [1]Hirthen.wikipedia.org

  Hirth's first commercial aircraft engine, the four-cylinder inverted in-line HM 60, ran for the first time in June.

A specialist German propulsion manufacturer focused on compact, lightweight piston engines for light aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and other demanding applications, with a historical legacy in both conventional aircraft engines and experimental jet propulsion.

• Historical four-stroke aircraft engines

  HM-series aircraft engines

  The HM family formed Hirth's principal prewar piston-engine range. It began with the four-cylinder inverted in-line HM 60 and included the more efficient HM 60R and larger six-, eight- and twelve-cylinder derivatives. Listed members include the HM 500, HM 501, HM 504, HM 506, HM 508, HM 512 and HM 515. These air-cooled engines covered a broad range of power outputs and represented the company's best-known conventional aircraft-propulsion work before and during the Second World War.

• Experimental jet and turbine engines

  Heinkel-Hirth experimental turbine engines

  During the Heinkel-Hirth period, the Hirth facilities supported experimental turbine propulsion. The associated designs included the HeS 1, HeS 3, HeS 30, HeS 40, HeS 50, HeS 60 and HeS 011. The HeS 3B is historically significant because it powered the Heinkel He 178, the first jet aircraft to fly. The wider group of concepts demonstrated technical development capability, although the listed designs did not become a series-produced operational engine family.

• Small two-stroke engines

  F-series two-stroke engines

  The postwar F-series reflects Hirth's specialization in compact two-stroke propulsion. Listed engines include the two-cylinder F-23, four-cylinder F-30 and F-40, single-cylinder F-33 and F-36, and the F-102 and F-263. The family covers different cylinder counts and power levels and has been used across light aviation and other specialized applications.

• Two-stroke aircraft engines

  Hirth 2700-series

  The 2700-series comprises compact two-cylinder two-stroke engines, including the 2702, 2703, 2704 and 2706. The variants span different rated outputs and are representative of Hirth's focus on lightweight propulsion for light aircraft and related uses.

• Two-stroke aircraft engines

  Hirth 3000- and 3500-series

  The 3000- and 3500-series extend Hirth's two-stroke range with compact two- and four-cylinder configurations. Listed examples include the four-cylinder 3002 and the two-cylinder 3202, 3203, 3502 and 3503. These engines occupy the specialist small-aircraft and light-propulsion segment rather than the large commercial-aircraft engine market.

• Three-cylinder two-stroke engine

  Hirth 3701

  The 3701 is a three-cylinder two-stroke engine listed among Hirth's compact propulsion products. Its approximately 100 hp class places it toward the higher-output end of the small two-stroke range and makes it relevant to light-aircraft and unmanned-aircraft applications.

• Unmanned-aircraft propulsion · 2011

  Heavy-fuel UAV piston engines

  Hirth has developed piston-engine propulsion intended for unmanned aerial vehicles and capable of using heavier aviation fuel. The approach addresses operational requirements such as fuel availability, handling and energy density. These engines complement Hirth's gasoline-fueled products and have been associated with the Skeldar unmanned-aircraft family.

• 2018

  Acquisition by UMS SkeldarM&A

  Background

  Göbler-Hirth had developed a modern business around compact two-stroke aero engines and emerging unmanned-aircraft propulsion.

  Action taken

  UMS Skeldar acquired Göbler-Hirth and renamed the business Hirth Engines GmbH.

  Aftermath

  Hirth became part of the UMS Aero Group structure and its engines were associated with the Skeldar UAV product range.

  Source

• 1942

  Integration into Heinkel-HirthM&A

  Background

  The German aviation ministry had nationalized Hirth after the death of Hellmuth Hirth, and wartime aircraft manufacturing was being consolidated.

  Action taken

  Heinkel took over the company and combined it with its own operations under the Heinkel-Hirth name.

  Aftermath

  Hirth piston-engine production continued, while the facilities also supported Heinkel's experimental jet-engine program.

  Source

1. 1Hirthen.wikipedia.org