The Arado Ar 240 was a military prototype aircraft which was designed and developed for the German Luftwaffe between 1938 and 1942. Although it underwent test trials for about two years, the program was abandoned in December 1942. The machine was too unstable and not maneuverable enough for the combat role. However, from the 14 prototypes that were built, 7 would be used to fly reconnaissance missions on the Eastern Front in the Ar 240A-01/ and 02 variants.
The first prototype of the Arado Ar 240, the V1, made its maiden flight on June 25, 1940. Both V1 and V2 flew badly. The had been conceived as heavy fighter and dive-bomber. The V3 prototype would be used as a reconnaissance aircraft. Although the combat variant was cancelled, Arado would doggedly keep developing it as the V4, V5, V6, and V7 (Ar 240C-01) prototype. The last one was intended to be used as a bomber, which never entered production.
Technical Description
The Arado Ar 240 was a twin-engine, mid-wing monoplane, with twin fins and rudders. The fuselage had a stressed-skin monocoque structure. The wing center was rectangular; the outer wing panels, on the other hand, were trapezoidal, with unswept leading edges and slats. The wing was a two-spar structure, which consisted of a one-piece center-section and two outer sections. The cockpit was set in forward position ahead of wings, giving the pilot a good vision of the terrain below. Landing gear and tail wheel were retractable.
Specifications
Length: 12.80 m (42 ft)
Wing Span: 13.33 m (43 ft, 9 inch)
Wing Area: 31.30 m2 (337 sq. ft)
Height: 3.95 m (12 ft, 11 inch)
Power Plant: two Daimler-Benz DB 601E, 12-cylinder, inline piston engines, each producing 1,176 horsepower.
Maximum Speed: 620 km/h (384 mph)
Range: 2,000 km (1,240 miles)
Service Ceiling: 10,500 m (34,400 ft)
Armament: two fixed, foward-firing 7.92-mm MG machine guns; four 7.92-mm machine guns in remotely-controlled barbettes.
Below, the Arado Ar 240, V3, prototype in 1941, before taking off.
The Ar 240A-02 reconnaissance variant on the Eastern Front in the winter of 1943.
