Arado Ar 66

Design and development

Arado's chief designer Walter Rethel started design of a new two-seat trainer in 1931, with the design being developed by Walter Blume when Rethel transferred to Messerschmitt, with the first prototype, the Ar 66a flying in 1932.

The Ar 66 had an Argus As 10 air-cooled inverted V8 engine producing about 179 kW (240 hp), which drove a 2.5 m (8.2 ft) two-blade propeller. It carried 205 L (54 US gal) of fuel, and 17 L (4 US gal) of oil.

The fuselage had an oval cross-section and was made of welded steel tubes, covered with fabric. The double wings provided very high lift, even at low speeds. Both wings had the same span and an 8° sweep. Construction consisted of a double pine wing spar structure, with lime tree ribs, and fabric covering. There were ailerons in both upper and lower wings. The tail had a conventional design, with the horizontal stabilizer mounted on the fuselage upper edge. The rudder was placed behind the elevator. Both the rudder and the elevator were of steel tube covered in fabric, and had a bigger surface than the first version to correct balance problems. The steel tube undercarriage was attached to the fuselage in a "V" shape and used a high-pressure rubber suspension.

The crew consisted of two: instructor pilot and trainee, seated in open tandem cockpits equipped with dual controls. The aircraft was equipped with instrument flight systems with photographic cameras were mounted as optional equipment.

Operational history

The Ar 66 entered service with the Luftwaffe in 1933, serving as a trainer until well into World War II. In 1943, the Luftwaffe set up a number of night harassment groups to operate on the Russian front. The Ar 66, along with the Gotha Go 145, formed the main equipment of these groups.

Variants

Data from:Aircraft of the Third Reich

Ar 66a

Prototype

Ar 66b

2nd prototype completed as a floatplane

Ar 66B

Production Seaplane version of Ar 66C. Two large steel hollow floats braced with iron cable. About 10 were constructed and used for seaplane training.

Ar 66C

Series production model with modified elevators, larger rudder, and larger-diameter wheels.

Operators

 Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakian Air Force (Postwar)

 Germany

Luftwaffe

Nachtschlachtgruppe 2

Nachtschlachtgruppe 3

Nachtschlachtgruppe 5

Nachtschlachtgruppe 8

Nachtschlachtgruppe 12

 Spain

Spanish Air Force

Specifications (Ar 66C)

Data from Aircraft of the Third Reich

General characteristics

Crew: 2

Length: 8.3 m (27 ft 3 in)

Wingspan: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)

Height: 2.93 m (9 ft 7 in)

Wing area: 29.63 m² (318.9 sq ft)

Empty weight: 905 kg (1,995 lb)

Max takeoff weight: 1,330 kg (2,932 lb)

Powerplant: 1 × Argus As 10C inverted V-8 air-cooled piston engine, 179 kW (240 hp)

Propellers: 2-bladed wooden fixed pitch propeller

Performance

Maximum speed: 210 km/h (130 mph; 113 kn) at sea level

Cruising speed: 175 km/h (109 mph; 94 kn) at optimum altitude

Landing Speed: 80km/h (50 mph)

Range: 715 km (444 mi; 386 nmi)

Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,764 ft)

Rate of climb: 4.333 m/s (853.0 ft/min)

Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3280 ft) in 4.1 minutes

Armament

2 kg (4.4 lb) and 4 kg (8.8 lb) anti-personnel bombs