Germany's Arado Ar 240 Reconnaissance1
Arado Ar 240:
Arado Ar 240:
Design
Arado started working on the E 240 project in 1938.1 It was to have the latest technology by using aerodynamic devices, pressurization, and a tail mounted airbrake.1
The first two prototype, the Ar 240 V1 and Ar 240 V2, proved to be very unstable.1 This lead to a redesigned prototype, the Ar 240 V3.1
The Ar 240 V4 had the dive bombing equipment installed and proved successful, but it was thought that the reconnaissance version was more important.1
In December 1942 the program was halted.1
Variants
- Ar 240 V1 and V2: Initial unstable prototypes.1
- Ar 240 V3: Prototype without equipment for dive bombing.1
- Ar 240 V4: Prototype with dive bombing equipment.1
- Ar 240 V5 became the preproduction Ar 240A-011
- Ar 240 V6 became the preproduction Ar 240A-021
Usage
The Ar 240 V3 was used in high altitude and speed missions over England.1
The Ar 240A-01 and Ar 240A-02 flew missions over the Murmansk railway.1
| Ar 240A-011 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Reconnaissance1 |
| Crew | |
| Engine (Type) | 2: Daimler-Benz DB 601E1 |
| Cylinders | I-12, inverted1 |
| Cooling | |
| Net HP | 1,176 each1 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 43' 9"1 13.33 m1 |
| Length | 42'1 12.8 m1 |
| Height | 12' 11"1 3.95 m1 |
| Wing area | 337 ft2 1 31.3 m2 1 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 13,640 lb1 6,200 kg1 |
| Loaded | 20,790 lb1 9,450 kg1 |
| Max overload | |
| Performance | |
| Speed @ 20,000' / 6,000 m | 384 mph1 620 kph1 |
| Climb | 11 minutes to 20,000'1 11 minutes to 6,000 m1 |
| Service ceiling | 34,400'1 10,500 m1 |
| Range with auxiliary fuel tank | 1,240 miles1 2,000 km1 |
| Armament | |
| Nose | 2: 7.92 mm MG 171 |
| Barbettes | 4: 7.92 mm MG 171 |
| Production |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
| Want to learn about a new vehicle? Select the random picture to learn about the vehicle. |
