The He 111V-1 was the first prototype aircraft in the Heinkel He 111 series, making its maiden flight on February 24, 1935. This flight was conducted from the company’s new Rostock-Marienehe factory. Key details about the He 111V-1 include: • Pilot: Gerhard Nitschke, the new chief test pilot for Heinkel, was at the controls. Nitschke, a former Reichswehr member trained at the secret German air-base in Lipetzk, expressed being “extremely pleased” with the aircraft’s handling characteristics and was excited about its future prospects. • Initial Concerns: Company head Professor Ernst Heinkel was initially concerned about the short runway at Rostock-Marienehe for landing such a high-speed machine. He advised Nitschke to land at the experimental station at Rechlin if he had any misgivings. However, Nitschke landed effortlessly back at Marienehe. • Performance: Nitschke noted that the aircraft had excellent landing characteristics even when throttling back, a trait that would remain a hallmark throughout the He 111’s development.