Germany's Arado Ar 234 "Blitz" Bomber1

Arado Ar 234 A Blitz:
Germany's Arado Ar 234 Blitz bomber

Arado Ar 234 A Blitz:
Germany's Arado Ar 234 Blitz bomber

Arado Ar 234 B Blitz:
Arado Ar 234 B Blitz bomber

Arado Ar 234 C Blitz:
Germany's Arado Ar 234 C Blitz bomber

The Blitz was the world's first jet bomber.1

Design

The first prototype was delivered during the winter of 1941/1942 but had to wait for it's first flight because of the delay of the Junkers Jumo turbojets.1

The Ar 234 could mount two Walter rocket assisted take off devices under the wings.1 This was needed as it took 1,250' / 380 m of runway to get in air.1

Also on take off, the Ar 234 was mounted to a wheeled trolley that was jettisoned after take off.1 The aircraft would then land on a skid.1 Later models had tricycle landing gear installed.1

The turbojets only had a life of 25 hours.1

There was an ejection seat installed for the pilot.1

Production

Production models were designated the Ar 234 B.1

Variants

Usage

It was first used in the reconnaissance role in late 1944 by flying over the United Kingdom.1

On Christmas Eve 1944, they were used in a raid on allied supplies in Liege, Belgium.1 They were again used in the Ardennes battle and at Remagen in 1945.1

Operations ceased in March 1945.1

  Ar 234B-21
Type Bomber1
Reconnaissance1
Crew 11
Engine (Type) 2: Junkers Jumo 004B-1 Orkan turbojets1
Thrust 1,975 lb1
8.8 kN1
Dimensions  
Span 46'1
14.44 m1
Length 41'1
12.64 m1
Height 14'1
4.29 m1
Wing area 294 ft2 1
27.3 m2 1
Weight  
Empty 11,440 lb1
5,300 kg1
Loaded 21,560 lb1
9,800 kg1
Performance  
Speed @ sea level  
Speed @ 20,000' / 6,000 m 460 mph1
742 kph1
Climb  
Service ceiling 33,000'1
10,000 m1
Range 1,010 miles1
1,630 km1
Armament  
Bombs 4,400 lb1
1,995 kg1
Production  

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
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