The Arado Ar 68, a German single-seat biplane fighter, was developed in the mid-1930s.
It was one of the initial fighters manufactured after Germany’s decision to rearm and abandon the Treaty of Versailles restrictions.
Despite initial challenges with securing a powerful engine for the prototype, the Ar 68 displayed excellent handling characteristics during its first flight in early 1934.
Following the installation of a Junkers Jumo 210 engine, production of the Ar 68 commenced.
Concerns about the aircraft’s demanding performance almost led to the project’s cancellation.
In 1936, the Ar 68 was introduced into service with the Luftwaffe, with one of the first units stationed in East Prussia.
The fighter was later deployed in the Spanish Civil War, where it faced superior Soviet Polikarpov I-16 aircraft.
Arado responded by enhancing the engine of the Ar 68E, which became the most widely used fighter of the Luftwaffe in 1937-38, until being replaced by the Messerschmitt Bf 109.
The final Ar 68s were utilised as night fighters until the winter of 1939-40, after which they were repurposed as fighter-trainers until 1944.
Specifications
Crew
One
Length
9.5 m (31 ft 2 in)
Upper wingspan
11 m (36 ft 1 in)
Lower wingspan
8 m (26 ft 3 in)
Height
3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)
Aspect ratio
6.1
Empty weight
1,600 kg (3,527 lb)
Gross weight
2,020 kg (4,453 lb)
Fuel capacity
Main tank
200 l (53 US gal; 44 imp gal);
Oil tank
27 l (7.1 US gal; 5.9 imp gal)
Powerplant
1 × BMW VI, V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine,
541 kW (725 hp)
Propellers
2 bladed wooden fixed pitch propeller,
3.1 m (10 ft 2 in) diameter
Performance
Maximum speed
330 km/h (210 mph, 180 kn) at sea level
Landing Speed
97 km/h (60 mph; 52 kn)
Range
500 km (310 mi, 270 nmi)
Service ceiling
7,400 m (24,300 ft)
Rate of climb
12.6 m/s (2,480 ft/min)
Time to altitude
6,000 m (19,685 ft) in 16 minutes
Wing loading
74 kg/m2 (15 lb/sq ft)
Armament
Guns
2 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 17 machine guns with 500 rounds per gun
Bombs
Up to 6 x 10 kg (22 lb) SC 10 fragmentation 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.
