Arado Ar 66
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The Arado Ar 66 was developed in 1933 and was a very successful single engined double seat training biplane. It was also used for night ground-attack on the Eastern Front. It was engineer Walter Rethel's last design in collaboration with Arado.
The first version of this plane was designated "A", and differed only slightly from later versions, such as the more famous "C".The main differences were in its large diameter landing gears, its small rudder and its umbalanced elevator.
The Ar 66C was very similar to Ar 66A, with slightly different direction panes (elevator and rudder) and chassis. Since 1933 Ar 66A was intensely used in the new Luftwaffe as a trainer.
The Ar 66b was a seaplane version of Ar 66C. This version had been improved with two large steel hollow floats tied with iron cable. About ten Ar 66B were constructed and used for seaplane training.
Construction and characteristics
It had an air-cooled Argus As 10 C engine, an eight cylinder with inverted "V" configuration and 240 HP (take off power) machine. The propeller had 2.5 m of diameter and double blade. This plane had a 205 l fuel tank, and 17 l lubricant tank.The double wings provided very high lift, even at low speeds. Both wings had the same span, and eight degrees arrow shape. They had double pinetree cross-beam structure, with lime tree ribs, and fabric covering. There were ailerons in both upper and lower wings.
The fuselage was made of welded steel tubes structure, covered with fabric and had oval cross-section.
The tail had a normal design, with the horizontal stabilizer mounted on the fuselage upper edge, for better fitting. The rudder was placed behind the elevator. Both the rudder and the elevator had an internal steel tube structure with fabric covering, and had bigger surface than the first version to correct balance problems.
The chassis was constructed in steel tube structure, with "V" shape, and attached to the fuselage after high pressure rubber suspension.
The crew consisted in two men, seated in open seats with dual control.
The plane was equipped with intrumental flight systems and photographic cameras were optionally mounted.
Technical data
- Length: 8.75 m
- Wingspan: 10 m
- Hight: 3.25 m
- Engine: Argus As 10 C 240 HP
- Maximum Speed: 210 Km/h
- Range: 715 Km
- Top ceiling 3,000 m, 10,000 ft
- Crew: Two men
- Amament: 1.8 and 4 kg anti-personnel bombs
See also
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