The Arado Ar 231 was a lightweight floatplane, developed during World War II in Nazi Germany as a scout plane for submarines by Arado. The need to be stored inside the submarine necessitated compromises in design that made this single-seat seaplane of little practical use.
Ar 231
Arado Ar 231 model, front view, showing the special wing configuration
Designed from the outset for use on U-boat "cruisers", like the Type XI B, the Ar 231 was a light parasol-wing aircraft. The aircraft was powered by a 119 kW (160 hp) Hirth HM 501inline engine, weighed around 1,000 kg (2,200 lb), and had a 10 m (33 ft) wingspan. The design led to a simple and compact aircraft that could be fitted into a storage cylinder only 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in diameter. For ease of storage, the Ar 231's wings featured detachable sections that two operators could remove in less than six minutes. One unusual feature was an offset wing design, with the right wing root attaching to the wing's tilted center section (elevated above the fuselage, as on all parasol-wing designs) and lower than the left wing root, to allow the wings to overlap when folded, so as to occupy less space.
Arado Ar 231 Model side view
Operational historyedit
Testing soon revealed the Ar 231s to be fragile, underpowered, and difficult to fly even during calm weather. Moreover, U-boat commanders were reluctant to linger on the surface for launch and retrieval[1] and, as a result, development ended in favour of the Focke Achgelis Fa 330gyroglider. Some of the testing was done on the auxiliary cruiser Stier, two of the six prototypes being taken on one voyage.
Specifications (Ar 231 V1)edit
Data from German aircraft of the Second World War[2]
^Smith, J.R.; Kay, Antony L. (1972). German aircraft of the Second World War. London: Putnam. p. 35. ISBN0-85177-836-4.
Munson, Kenneth (1978). German Aircraft Of World War 2 in colour. Poole, Dorsett, UK: Blandford Press. ISBN0-7137-0860-3.
Smith, J. R.; Kay, Anthony (1972). German Aircraft of the Second World War. London, UK: Putnam & Company. ISBN0-370-00024-2.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopaedia of Aviation. Portland House. ISBN0-517-69186-8.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arado Ar 231.
January 01, 1970
arado, lightweight, floatplane, developed, during, world, nazi, germany, scout, plane, submarines, arado, need, stored, inside, submarine, necessitated, compromises, design, that, made, this, single, seat, seaplane, little, practical, model, front, view, showi. The Arado Ar 231 was a lightweight floatplane developed during World War II in Nazi Germany as a scout plane for submarines by Arado The need to be stored inside the submarine necessitated compromises in design that made this single seat seaplane of little practical use Ar 231 Arado Ar 231 model front view showing the special wing configuration Role Submarine borne reconnaissance floatplane National origin Nazi Germany Manufacturer Arado Flugzeugwerke First flight 1941 Number built 6 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Specifications Ar 231 V1 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDesign and development editDesigned from the outset for use on U boat cruisers like the Type XI B the Ar 231 was a light parasol wing aircraft The aircraft was powered by a 119 kW 160 hp Hirth HM 501 inline engine weighed around 1 000 kg 2 200 lb and had a 10 m 33 ft wingspan The design led to a simple and compact aircraft that could be fitted into a storage cylinder only 2 m 6 ft 7 in in diameter For ease of storage the Ar 231 s wings featured detachable sections that two operators could remove in less than six minutes One unusual feature was an offset wing design with the right wing root attaching to the wing s tilted center section elevated above the fuselage as on all parasol wing designs and lower than the left wing root to allow the wings to overlap when folded so as to occupy less space nbsp Arado Ar 231 Model side viewOperational history editTesting soon revealed the Ar 231s to be fragile underpowered and difficult to fly even during calm weather Moreover U boat commanders were reluctant to linger on the surface for launch and retrieval 1 and as a result development ended in favour of the Focke Achgelis Fa 330 gyroglider Some of the testing was done on the auxiliary cruiser Stier two of the six prototypes being taken on one voyage Specifications Ar 231 V1 editData from German aircraft of the Second World War 2 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 7 81 m 25 ft 7 in Wingspan 10 18 m 33 ft 5 in Height 3 12 m 10 ft 3 in Wing area 15 2 m2 164 sq ft Empty weight 833 kg 1 836 lb Gross weight 1 050 kg 2 315 lb Powerplant 1 Hirth HM 501 6 cylinder air cooled inverted in line piston engine 120 kW 160 hp Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propeller Performance Maximum speed 170 km h 110 mph 92 kn Cruise speed 130 km h 81 mph 70 kn Range 500 km 310 mi 270 nmi Endurance 4 hours Service ceiling 3 000 m 9 800 ft Wing loading 69 1 kg m2 14 2 lb sq ft Power mass 0 113 kW kg 0 069 hp lb See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Aichi M6A Besson MB 411 Parnall Peto Watanabe E9W Yokosuka E14Y Related lists List of submarine borne aircraft List of World War II military aircraft of Germany List of military aircraft of GermanyReferences edit Munson 1978 p 22 Smith J R Kay Antony L 1972 German aircraft of the Second World War London Putnam p 35 ISBN 0 85177 836 4 Munson Kenneth 1978 German Aircraft Of World War 2 in colour Poole Dorsett UK Blandford Press ISBN 0 7137 0860 3 Smith J R Kay Anthony 1972 German Aircraft of the Second World War London UK Putnam amp Company ISBN 0 370 00024 2 Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopaedia of Aviation Portland House ISBN 0 517 69186 8 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arado Ar 231 Arado Ar 231 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arado Ar 231 amp oldid 1208544353, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
