Arado SD I

The Arado SD I, a fighter biplane developed in Germany during the 1920s, was designed to be part of Germany’s covert air force at Lipetsk.

The aircraft’s layout was influenced by Walter Rethel’s experience at Fokker.

Featuring a conventional design, the SD I had a welded steel tube frame, metal covering in front of the cockpit, and fabric covering behind it.

The wooden sesquiplane wings were supported by N-type interplane struts, a distinctive Fokker characteristic, without the use of wires.

Unfortunately, the SD I’s performance and handling were found to be lacking at speeds other than very low.

Concerns were also raised about the structural integrity of the design, leading to the termination of its development shortly thereafter.

Specifications

Crew

One

Length

6.75 m (22 ft 2 in)

Wingspan

8.40 m (27 ft 7 in)

Height

2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)

Wing area

16.8 m² (181 sq ft)

Empty weight

850 kg (1,870 lb)

Gross weight

1,230 kg (2,710 lb)

Powerplant

1 × Bristol Jupiter,

317 kW (425 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed

275 km/h (171 mph, 149 kn)

Service ceiling

8,000 m (26,200 ft)

Rate of climb

10.4 m/s (2,050 ft/min)

Armament

2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine guns

Sources
Arado Geschichte Eines Flugzeugwerks-Jorg Armin Kranzhoff.
Die geheimen Anfänge der Luftwaffe 1920-1935-Waffen-Arsenal Special Band-M Griehl.

Die deutschen Militärflugzeuge 1919-1934-H Stutzer.