The Arado Ar 64 was a biplane fighter aircraft with a single seat, created and manufactured by the German company Arado.
It was one of the initial fighters developed after Germany disregarded the limitations imposed by the Treaty of Versailles and commenced its rearmament efforts.
The Ar 64 originated from the Arado SD II and Arado SD III to serve the ‘display squadrons’ of the Reichswehr.
It commonly featured a Siemens (Bristol) Jupiter VI air-cooled radial engine with a unique streamlined deflector shroud to minimise drag.
Equipped with hydraulic brakes, the Ar 64 marked the company’s initial aircraft with such a provision.
Its inaugural flight took place in the spring of 1930.
Despite its unfavourable take-off and landing characteristics and structural weaknesses that could potentially lead to its disintegration, the Ar 64 managed to surpass its competitors, including the Heinkel HD 43, and secure a production contract.
This made Arado the first German aircraft manufacturer to receive an order for a fighter.
The Ar 64 also caught the attention of the Soviet Union, although no export order was ultimately placed.
The subsequent development of the Ar 65, an enhanced fighter equipped with the BMW VI inline engine and interconnected ailerons, further showcased Arado’s commitment to innovation.
Both the Ar 64 and Ar 65 were concurrently manufactured until 1936.
Specifications
Crew
One
Length
8.43 m (27 ft 8 in)
Wingspan
9.9 m (32 ft 6 in)
Empty weight
1,210 kg (2,668 lb)
Max take-off weight
1,680 kg (3,704 lb)
Powerplant
1 × Siemens (Bristol) Jupiter VI,
9 cyl air cooled radial piston engine,
395 kW (530 hp)
Propellers
4-bladed wooden fixed pitch propeller
Performance
Maximum speed
250 km/h (160 mph, 130 kn) at 5,000 m (16,404 ft)
Armament
2 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 17 machine guns.
Sources Arado Geschichte Eines Flugzeugwerks-Jorg Armin Kranzhoff. Aircraft of the Luftwaffe 1935-1945, An Illustrated Guide-Jean-Denis GG LaPage. The Official Monogram Painting Guide to German Aircraft, 1935-1945-Kenneth A Merrick & Thomas H Hitchcock.
