Arado Ar 198
Arado Flugzeugwerke · Germany · first flew 1938 · fighter
The Arado Ar 198 was a German high-wing monoplane designed for tactical reconnaissance, featuring an extensively glazed ventral gondola to give the crew unobstructed downward visibility. It competed unsuccessfully against the Focke-Wulf Fw 189 and Blohm und Voss BV 141.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Extensively glazed lower fuselage gondola for downward observation |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- German high-wing reconnaissance prototype of 1938
- Extensively glazed lower fuselage gondola for downward observation
- Lost Luftwaffe competition to the Fw 189
The deeply glazed lower fuselage gondola beneath a high-mounted straight wing and single radial engine is the aircraft's defining visual feature, giving it an unusual pregnant appearance.
Specifications
- The Arado Ar 198 has a length of 11.8 m (39 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.9 m (49 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 359 km/h (223 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Flown in 1938, the Ar 198 was one of three designs evaluated in the Luftwaffe's army cooperation competition. Its conventional single-engine high-wing layout was deemed less innovative than the asymmetric BV 141 or the twin-boom Fw 189, and it was eliminated from the competition.
Variants
Only the single prototype was completed; no variants were developed.
Where you'll see it
Never entered operational service; evaluated only as a prototype by the Luftwaffe.
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