Arado Ar 234 Blitz

1943

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Arado Ar 234 Blitz

Arado's Ar.234 has the historical distinction of being the world's first turbojet bomber to enter operational service with any air force. That alone is sufficient to make it a very interesting aircraft but, in addition, it was used to explore a number of advanced concepts. With the company number E.370, it was selected to provide the Luftwaffe with a medium-range turbojet-powered reconnaissance aircraft under the designation Ar.234.

An aerodynamically clean shoulder-wing monoplane, its slender fuselage and thin-section wing made difficult the provision of conventional landing gear, leading to a somewhat startling innovation for an aeroplane intended for operational service. This consisted of a jettisonable take-off trolley. Landing was to be accomplished on a centrally mounted main skid, with outrigger skids mounted beneath the engine nacelles.

The first prototype Ar.234 flew on 15 June 1943 powered by two Junkers Jumo 004A turbojets. It was followed by other prototypes introducing such advanced features as a pressurised cockpit for the pilot and RATO units to reduce take-off run. The Ar.234B, which went into production in mid-1944 and then entered service, had narrow-track (but otherwise conventional) retractable tricycle-type landing gear.

Arado Ar 234 Blitz

Initial operations in the autumn of 1944 were concerned with reconnaissance over Britain, the Ar.234 having ample speed to elude all attempts at interception by the RAF. Ar.234B-2 bombers were involved during the Ardennes offensive (December 1944/January 1945), but their most vital operation was in opposition to the Allied crossing of the Rhine. For attack missions one 1,000kg bomb could be carried under the fuselage and one 500kg bomb under each jet nacelle, although a total load of 1,000kg was normal.

Arado Ar 234 Blitz on YOUTUBE

3-View 
Arado Ar 234 BlitzA three-view drawing (752 x 1470)

Specification 
 MODELAr.234B-2
 ENGINE2 x Junkers Jumo 004B turbojets, 890kg
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight9850 kg21716 lb
  Empty weight5200 kg11464 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan14.10 m46 ft 3 in
  Length12.64 m41 ft 6 in
  Height4.30 m14 ft 1 in
  Wing area26.40 m2284.17 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed740 km/h460 mph
  Ceiling10000 m32800 ft
  Range1630 km1013 miles
 ARMAMENT2000kg of bombs

Arado Ar 234 Blitz

Comments1-20 21-40
leo rudnicki, e-mail, 10.04.2009 01:19

The RAF attempted to intercept using TempestV's. Tricky business. Winkle Brown was getting ready to fly one (he flew everything) but one engine exploded. The original take-off on a dolly and land on skids system was primitive. Germany could have got lessons from the Burma Bridge Busters. Practice-practice-practice. As it was, there were no experts in jet bomb delivery.

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Barrett, 09.10.2008 01:33

Don't forget- if this thing had been opperational in 1943, the British just would have accelerated development of the Meteor fighter.

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Pasha, e-mail, 17.06.2008 04:46

This Plan was real threat to the Allied if it was operational in 1943.
It could be as powerfull as the V1 and V2 with its speed.

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Cardinal Sin, 21.02.2008 02:10

Funny thing by the way, that this plane could escape any allied fighter with only its speed

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laureano, e-mail, 13.07.2007 20:36

nunca se a usado en la guerra el ar234 c-3

reply

1-20 21-40

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