Arado Ar 197
Arado Ar 197V3
The Ar 197 had its origin in the requirement for a fighter capable of operating from the planned (but never completed) German aircraft carriers Graf Zeppelin and Peter Strasser. The Ar 68H had been the first Arado aircraft to have a fully-enclosed cockpit, and was selected as a base design for the Arado Ar 197. The first prototype of the Ar 197, the V1, was based on the Ar 68H and featured a fully-enclosed cockpit, Daimler-Benz DB 600A inline engine, and three-blade propeller, but was not fitted for naval operations. The second prototype, the Ar 197 V2, was similar to the V1, but was powered by a BMW 132Dc radial engine, and was fitted with naval equipment including an arrester hook and catapult spools. Both the Ar 197 V1 and V2 flew in the spring of 1937. In the summer of 1937 a third prototype, the V3, was built. Powered by a more powerful BMW radial engine and was the first prototype fitted with weapons, the Ar 197 V3 was armed with two 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine guns and one 20 mm cannon. The V3 was also fitted with racks under the fuselage which could carry four 50 kg (110 lb) bombs, an auxiliary fuel tank, or a smoke-laying canister.
Sources:
Gunston, Bill & Wood, Tony - Hitler's Luftwaffe
, 1977, Salamander
Books Ltd., London
Wikipedia - Arado Ar 197
Arado Ar 197V3
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Type: Carrier Based Fighter Origin: Arado Handelsgesellschaft, Warnedmunde Models: V1 - 3 First Flight: N/A Powerplant: Ar 197 V-1 Model: Daimler-Benz DB 600 Type: Inverted liquid cooled V-12 Number: One Horsepower: 910 hp Others: Model: BMW 132Dc Type: Nine-cylinder air cooled radial Number: One Horsepower: 880 hp Dimensions: Wing span: 11.00m (36 ft. 1 in.) Length: 9.20m (30 ft. 2.25 in.) Height: 3.60m (11 ft. 9.75 in.) Wheel Track: N/A Landing Gear Type: Fixed Wing Surface Area: N/A |
Weights: Empty: 1,840kg (4,056 lbs.) Maximum: 2,674kg (5,896 lbs.) Performance: Maximum Speed: 399kph (248 mph) Initial climb: N/A Range (with drop tanks): 1,018 miles (1,638 km) Service Ceiling: 30,510 ft. (9,300m) Armament: 2 MG FF 20mm cannons in upper wings 2 synchronized 7.92mm MG 17 in fuselage Bomb Load: Four 50 kg. (110 lb.) bombs |
The Ar 197 had its origin in the requirement for a fighter capable of operating from the planned (but never completed) German aircraft carriers Graf Zeppelin and Peter Strasser. The Ar 68H had been the first Arado aircraft to have a fully-enclosed cockpit, and was selected as a base design for the Arado Ar 197. The first prototype of the Ar 197, the V1, was based on the Ar 68H and featured a fully-enclosed cockpit, Daimler-Benz DB 600A inline engine, and three-blade propeller, but was not fitted for naval operations. The second prototype, the Ar 197 V2, was similar to the V1, but was powered by a BMW 132Dc radial engine, and was fitted with naval equipment including an arrester hook and catapult spools. Both the Ar 197 V1 and V2 flew in the spring of 1937. In the summer of 1937 a third prototype, the V3, was built. Powered by a more powerful BMW radial engine and was the first prototype fitted with weapons, the Ar 197 V3 was armed with two 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine guns and one 20 mm cannon. The V3 was also fitted with racks under the fuselage which could carry four 50 kg (110 lb) bombs, an auxiliary fuel tank, or a smoke-laying canister.
Sources:
Gunston, Bill & Wood, Tony - Hitler's Luftwaffe
, 1977, Salamander
Books Ltd., LondonWikipedia - Arado Ar 197
