https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arado_Ar_234
The Arado Ar 234 Blitz (English: lightning) was the world's first operational
jet-powered bomber, built by the German Arado company in the closing stages of
World War II.
Produced in very limited numbers, it was used almost entirely in the
reconnaissance role, but in its few uses as a bomber it proved to be nearly
impossible to intercept. It was the last Luftwaffe aircraft to fly over Britain
during the war, in April 1945.
In late 1940, the Reich Air Ministry (German: Reichsluftfahrtministerium,
abbreviated RLM) offered a tender for a jet-powered high-speed reconnaissance
aircraft with a range of 2,156 km (1,340 mi). Arado was the only company to
respond, offering their E.370 project, led by Professor Walter Blume. This was a
high-wing conventional-looking design with a Junkers Jumo 004 engine under each
wing.
Arado estimated a maximum speed of 780 km/h (480 mph) at 6,000 m (20,000 ft), an
operating altitude of 11,000 m (36,000 ft) and a range of 1,995 km (1,240 mi).
The range was short of the RLM request, but they liked the design and ordered
two prototypes as the Ar 234. These were largely complete before the end of
1941, but the Jumo 004 engines were not ready, and would not be ready until
February 1943. When they did arrive they were considered unreliable by Junkers
for in-flight use and were cleared for static and taxi tests only.
Flight-qualified engines were finally delivered, and the Ar 234 V1 made its
first flight on 30 July 1943 at Rheine Airfield (presently Rheine-Bentlage Air
Base).
By September, four prototypes were flying. The second prototype, Arado Ar 234
its port wing, failure of both engines and various instrumentation failures. The
aircraft dived into the ground from 1,200 m (3,900 ft), killing pilot
arrangement of trolley-and-skid landing gear, intended for the planned
operational, but never-produced Ar 234A version.
The few 234Bs entered service in autumn and impressed their pilots. They were
fairly fast and completely aerobatic. The long takeoff runs led to several
accidents; a search for a solution led to improved training as well as the use
of twin HWK-built, jettisonable liquid fueled monopropellant Starthilfe
pioneering RATO units, one mounted under each outer wing. The Jumo 004 engines
were always the real problem; they suffered constant flameouts and required
overhaul or replacement after about 10 hours of operation.
The most notable use of the Ar 234 in the bomber role was the attempt to destroy
the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen. Between 7 March, when it was captured by the
Allies, and 17 March, when it finally collapsed, the bridge was continually
attacked by Ar 234s of III/KG 76 carrying 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) bombs. The
aircraft continued to fight in a scattered fashion until Germany surrendered on
8 May 1945. Some were shot down in air combat, destroyed by flak, or "bounced"
by Allied fighters during takeoff or on the landing approach, as was already
happening to Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighters. Most simply sat on the airfields
awaiting fuel that never arrived.
Overall from mid-1944 until the end of the war a total of 210 aircraft were
built. In February 1945, production was switched to the C variant. It was hoped
that by November 1945 production would reach 500 per month.
Role
Reconnaissance jet bomber
Manufacturer
Arado Flugzeugwerke
Designer
Walter Blume
First flight
15 June 1943
Introduction
September 1944
Status
Retired
Primary user
Luftwaffe
Number built
214
In addition, it was intended to modify upwards of 30 Ar 234B-2 airframes for the
night-fighting role, from a proposal dated 12 September 1944 between Arado
director Walter Blume and Goering's top aviation technologist, Siegfried
Knemeyer.[14] Designated Ar 234B-2/N and code named Nachtigall (Nightingale),
these aircraft were fitted with FuG 218 "Neptun" VHF-band radar, with the
appropriately reduced-dipole length version of the standard Hirschgeweih
eight-dipole element, VHF-band transceiving AI radar antenna system, and carried
a pair of forward-firing MG 151/20 autocannon within a Magirusbombe conformal
gun pod on the ventral fuselage hardpoint. A second crew member, who operated
the radar systems, was accommodated in a very cramped compartment in the rear
fuselage. Two of these jury-rigged night fighters served with Kommando Bonow, an
experimental test unit attached to Luftflotte Reich. Operations commenced with
the pair of 234Bs in March 1945, but Bonow's team soon found the aircraft to be
unsuited for night fighting and no kills were recorded during the unit's very
brief life.
Specifications (Ar 234B-2)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 12.64 m (41 ft 6 in)
Wingspan: 14.41 m (47 ft 3 in)
Height: 4.29 m (14 ft 1 in)
Wing area: 26.4 m2 (284 sq ft)
Empty weight: 5,200 kg (11,464 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 9,800 kg (21,605 lb)
lbf) thrust each
JATO rocket pods, 4.905 kN (1,103 lbf) thrust each (optional)
Performance
Maximum speed: 742 km/h (461 mph; 401 kn) at 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
Cruise speed: 700 km/h (435 mph; 378 kn) at 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
Range: 1,556 km (967 mi; 840 nmi) with 500 kg (1,100 lb) bomb load
Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 13 m/s (2,600 ft/min)
Armament
prototypes only; never used in military service)
Bombs: up to 1,500 kg (3,309 lb) of disposable stores on external racks
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