| Ar 95 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Reconnaissancebiplane |
| Manufacturer | Arado |
| Primary users | Chile |
| Number built | 42 |
| History | |
| First flight | 3 December 1936 |
| Variants | Arado Ar 195 |
TheArado Ar 95 was a single-enginereconnaissance and patrolbiplane designed and produced by theGerman aircraft manufacturerArado.
During the mid 1930s, theReichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM/German Aviation Ministry) sought a replacement for theHeinkel He 60 floatplanes operated by theKriegsmarine (German Navy). Arado opted to design the Ar 95 with the intention of fulfilling this requirement. While the competingHeinkel He 114 was selected, the RLM encouraged the company to continue work on the aircraft. Furthermore, six aircraft were dispatched overseas with theLegion Condor and thus saw action during theSpanish Civil War. The Ar 95 also selected as the basis for theAr 195 carrier-basedtorpedo bomber intended for the Kriegsmarine's futureaircraft carriers.
Opting to focus on export opportunities for the aircraft, Arado produced two distinct versions, theAr 95Wfloatplane and theAr 95L landplane, which had a fixedundercarriage. The company was able to secure orders from bothChile andTurkey. However, the latter would not receive their Ar 95s as a consequence of the outbreak of theSecond World War; instead, they were taken over by the Kriegsmarine and used as trainers and coastal patrol aircraft off the coast ofLatvia andEstonia as well as in theGulf of Finland. Despite being built in relative low numbers, German Ar 95s continued to be operated up until late 1944. Spain continued to operate at least one of its Ar 95s as late as 1948.
During the mid-1930s, several German aircraft manufacturers embarked onbiplane aircraft that would be suited to performing multiple roles and operational environments, including asfloatplanes,trainers, andfighter aircraft.[1][2] These efforts were heavily connected withNazi Germany's expansion of theKriegsmarine (German Navy), which was a key customer for such aircraft.[3] By early 1935, it was determined that the Kriegsmarine's existing fleet ofHeinkel He 60 floatplanes was lacking in performance, thus theReichsluftfahrtministerium sought out a suitable successor to replace it.[4]
Arado opted to design and submit their own two-seat seaplane, designatedAr 95. It was designed to perform various missions, including coastal patrol, aerial reconnaissance, artillery spotting, target-towing, as well astorpedo andbomber attacks.[5][2] The design team was headed by Arado's chief engineer, theaeronautical engineerWalter Blume. He opted to produce a relatively compact all-metal aircraft, being largely composed ofduralumin, that was suited to the challenging maritime environment.[5][2] The Ar 95 was equipped with foldable wings to ease storage requirements as well as to performcatapult launches.[6] Furthermore, the Ar 95's configuration was validated to conform with modern standards as per the RLM's requirements.[7]
The fuselage featured amonocoque construction, the wing centre section being joined to the fuselage via its continuousspars.[7] The wings were of an all-metal construction, although afabric covering was present on the underside of the wing. The tailplane and fin were composed of lightweight metals and employedcantilever construction.[8] All control surfaces were counterbalanced, although only thehorizontal stabiliser could betrimmed mid-flight. Theailerons andvertical stabiliser could be adjusted on the ground.[9] Two separate compartments for stowing equipment were present just forward of the pilot's cockpit, which were externally accessible via their own hatches.[7] An observer's compartment was beneath the cockpit that comprised the entire height of the fuselage and could readily accommodate two people. Fuel was also accommodated beneath the cockpit.[7]
The firstprototype (D-OLUO), anall-metal biplane powered by aBMW 132radial engine, performed itsmaiden flight on 3 December 1936.[10][5] It was followed by a second prototype, which was powered by aJunkers Jumo 210liquid-cooledengine. The two prototypes were evaluated against the similarFocke-Wulf Fw 62. The BMW-powered version was considered worthy of further study, and a batch of six was sent for further evaluation with theLegion Condor, and thus flew active combat missions during theSpanish Civil War.[11]
The third prototype was the first to be fitted with a three-blade metalvariable-pitch propeller along with an automated RPM control system; it was also the first model outfitted to be operated by a crew of three, comprising a pilot, gunner, and radio operator/observer.[9] The fourth prototype was configured as a land-based aircraft, being equipped with fixed landing gear that housed fuel within itsspats. The RLM were reportedly interested in operating a land-based model, but ultimately chose not to procure it, allegedly due to it not achieving performance expectations.[9]
Even prior to the start of flight testing, it had become increasingly clear that the RLM favoured a rival submission, theHeinkel He 114, yet the ministry still encouraged development to continue, albeit with alterations that would make it better suited as a universal naval aircraft suitable for export customers. Furthermore, German officials advocated for a derivative that would be suited to thetorpedo bomber role that could be operated from the under-construction Germanaircraft carrierGraf Zeppelin; the resulting aircraft was designatedAr 195.[5][12]
The Ar 95 was not ordered by the German armed forces, and so was offered for export in two versions, the Ar 95Wfloatplane and Ar 95L landplane, the latter featuring a fixed,spattedundercarriage. During late 1938, an Ar 95 was lost in a fatal accident, killing test pilot Graf Resseguier, while attempting to perform a snap roll in spite of restrictions during a demonstration flight to visiting officials fromChile.[9] Nevertheless, six Ar 95Ls were ordered by theChilean Air Force, they were delivered prior to the start of the Second World War.[13]Turkey also placed an order for Ar 95Ws, however, none were delivered as these aircraft were instead taken over by Germany at the outbreak of the conflict.
These requisitioned Ar 95s were designated by theLuftwaffe as the Ar 95A-1, and served with Seeaufklärungsgruppe (SAGr/Naval Reconnaissance Group) 125, 126 or 127, mainly around the Baltic Sea.[14] The type lasted longer in Spanish service, being operational as late as 1948.[9]
Data fromWarplanes of the Luftwaffe[11]Arado, History of an Aircraft Company[12]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Related development
Related lists
