Arado Ar 96

The Arado Ar 96 was a German single-engine, low wing monoplane of all metal construction.

It was the Luftwaffe’s standard advanced trainer during World War II.

Designed by Walter Blume as the result of a 1936 Reich Air Ministry tender, the prototype, powered by a 179 kW (240 hp) Argus As 10c engine.

In 1939, an initial batch of Ar 96A aircraft was produced.

This was followed by the major production series, the more powerful Ar 96B, fitted with the Argus As 410 engine.

Variants

Ar 96A

Two-seat advanced trainer aircraft.

Initial production version.

Ar 96B

Improved version.

Main production version.

Ar 96B-1

Unarmed pilot trainer version.

Ar 396A-1

Single seat gunnery trainer, powered by an Argus As 411 engine, built largely from wood.

Ar 396A-2

Unarmed instrument trainer version.

SIPA S.10

French production version of Ar 396.

SIPA S.11

Modified version of S.10, powered by Renault 12S, 50 built for the French Air Force.

SIPA S.12

All-metal version of S.11, 52 built for the French Air Force.

SIPA S.121

Modified version of S.12, 58 built for the French Air Force.

Avia C.2B

Czechoslovak production version of the Ar 96B.

Czechoslovak designation C.2B.

228 built by Avia and 182 by Letov between 1945 and 1950.

Specifications

Crew

Two

Length

9.1 m (29 ft 10 in)

Wingspan

11 m (36 ft 1 in)

Height

2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)

Wing area

17.1 m2 (184 sq ft)

Empty weight

1,295 kg (2,855 lb)

Max take-off weight

1,700 kg (3,748 lb)

Powerplant

1 × Argus As 410A-1, inverted V-12 air cooled piston engine,

347 kW (465 hp)

Propellers

2-bladed variable pitch metal propeller

Performance

Maximum speed

330 km/h (210 mph, 180 kn) at sea level

Cruise speed

295 km/h (183 mph, 159 kn)

Range

991 km (661 mi, 574 nmi)

Service ceiling

7,100 m (23,300 ft)

Rate of climb

5.08 m/s (1,000 ft/min)

Armament

1 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 17 machine gun.