FlyPast 12.2018

A

s an ambitious Germany

sought to bolster its air force

in 1938, it identified a need

for a new combat aircraft that

would dominate the skies.

The origins of the Ar

240 were set when the

Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM)

tasked Arado Flugzeugbau with

designing a fast, powerfully armed

two-seat heavy fighter (schneller

Kampfzerstörer), with a pressurised

cockpit and remotely controlled gun

barbettes. It would also be capable of

dive-bombing and reconnaissance.

Arado’s design met with the RLM’s

approval, so a contract for three

prototypes was issued in April 1939.

Even though the first machine, Ar

240V1 DD+QL, did not fly until

mid-May 1940 the RLM in its

usual rushed manner increased the

number of prototypes from three to

ten, doubtless putting Arado under

pressure from the outset. As a result,

there were many problems with the

aircraft and its engines.

First, the DB 601A powerplants

suffered from overheating, which

required several minor modifications.

It also had very bad handling

characteristics, to such an extent that

the aircraft was inherently unstable in

flight. This necessitated the fuselage

being re-engineered, including

moving the cockpit forward, all of

which resulted in the Ar 240V3

(coded KK+CD) that is thought to

have first flown in May 1941. But

then there were problems with the

aircraft’s remotely controlled dorsal

and ventral barbettes, initially fitted

to the third prototype, and all these

problems delayed any potential entry

into service.

The fourth prototype was designed

as a dive-bomber with a tail-

mounted dive brake (originally fitted

to the V1 and V2) and capable of

carrying eight 50kg (110lb) bombs.

The engines were also changed to

DB 603Es. Airframes V5 and V6

went back to being powered by DB

601Es, the dive brake was replaced

by a tail cone and the armament

upgraded to two MG 17s in the

wing roots, and two rearwards-

facing MG 81 barbettes above and

below the fuselage.

In October 1942, V7 first flew

with DB 605A engines and a

pressurised cockpit suitable for

high-altitude reconnaissance; this

was followed by V8 in December

1942. Arado’s Ar 240V7 and V8
      were then apparently assigned to 1
      Staffel(Fern)/Aufklärungsgruppe
      100 (1.[F]/100) for operational
      evaluation over the Soviet Union
      from May to December 1943.

PROTOTYPE ARADO Ar 240

Above

Ar 240V3 Wk Nr 240003,

coded KK+CD, is believed

to have made its fi rst

fl ight in May 1941. The

dive brake in the tail has

been replaced by a solid

fairing. ALL CHRIS GOSS

UNLESS STATED

Above right

This image provides

a view of the hinged

canopy, and radio aerial

layout.

Flawed

Arado’s Ar 240 two-seat multi-role combat a  aft was yet anoth

G man World W Two design that promised much, but failed to deliv ,

as Chris Goss explai

barbettes. It would also be capable of

being re-engineered, including

moving the cockpit forward, all of

went back to being powered by DB

601Es, the dive brake was replaced