The Arado Ar 66, a twin-seat training biplane, was meticulously designed and manufactured by the esteemed German aircraft manufacturer Arado.
This remarkable aircraft, which marked the final collaboration between aeronautical engineer Walter Rethel and Arado, emerged as a military trainer during the early 1930s.
Its maiden flight in 1932 showcased its exceptional capabilities, surpassing those of its two competitors and earning it the prestigious role of meeting the training requirements of the Luftwaffe.
Apart from its primary function of flight training, the versatile Ar 66 was also employed for aerobatics, night-time instruction, and the training of various air crew positions, including bombardiers, radio operators, aerial photographers, and machine gun operators.
The Ar 66 was manufactured by various companies under license to meet the high demand for this aircraft.
Apart from the Luftwaffe, which first adopted the model in 1933, the Czechoslovakian Air Force and Spanish Air Force also utilised a considerable number of Ar 66s.
Furthermore, this versatile aircraft could be utilised both on land and as a float plane.
The Ar 66 continued to serve throughout the duration of the Second World War.
Moreover, the Luftwaffe employed it in active combat on the Eastern Front, where Ar 66s frequently carried out night ground-attack missions.
Specifications Crew Two 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) Aspect ratio 6.2 Empty weight 905 kg (1,995 lb) Max take-off weight 1,330 kg (2,932 lb) Fuel capacity Main tank 172 l (45 US gal; 38 imp gal); Reserve tank 33 l (8.7 US gal; 7.3 imp gal); Oil tank 17 l (4.5 US gal; 3.7 imp gal) Powerplant 1 × Argus As 10C, inverted V-8 air-cooled piston engine, 179 kW (240 hp) Propellers 2 bladed wooden fixed pitch propellers, 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) diameter Performance Maximum speed 210 km/h (130 mph, 110 kn) at sea level Cruise speed 175 km/h (109 mph, 94 kn) at optimum altitude Landing Speed 80 km/h (50 mph; 43 kn) Range 716 km (445 mi, 387 nmi) Endurance 4.1 hours Service ceiling 4,500 m (14,800 ft) Rate of climb 4.333 m/s (853.0 ft/min) Time to altitude 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 4.1 minutes Wing loading 45 kg/m2 (9.2 lb/sq ft) Power/mass 7.44 kg/kW (12.24 lb/hp) Fuel consumption 26.7 l (7.1 US gal; 5.9 imp gal) / 100 km (62 mi) Oil consumption 0.86 l (0.23 US gal; 0.19 imp gal) / 100 km (62 mi) Armament 2 kg (4.4 lb) & 4 kg (8.8 lb) anti-personnel bombs. 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.
