Arado Ar 81
Arado Flugzeugwerke · Germany · first flew 1935 · bomber
The Arado Ar 81 was a German two-seat biplane dive bomber prototype that competed with the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka in trials during the mid-1930s. It ultimately lost the competition and was not produced.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.65 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- German biplane dive bomber prototype competing with Ju 87
- Single radial engine with fixed spatted undercarriage
- Open cockpit two-seat design with dive brakes
A single-engine biplane with staggered wings, a radial engine, and fixed undercarriage with spats; recognisable as a pre-war German military biplane in the Stuka competition.
Specifications
- The Arado Ar 81 has a length of 11.65 m (38 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.2 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 345 km/h (214 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed in response to a Luftwaffe requirement for a dive bomber, the Ar 81 participated in competitive evaluations against the Heinkel He 118 and Junkers Ju 87 in 1935–36. Despite being a competent design, it was rejected in favour of the Ju 87. Only prototypes were built.
Variants
Three prototypes were completed with different engine options; no production variants were authorised.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service, serving only as evaluation prototypes during the 1935–36 competitive trials.
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- Arado Ar 68
- Arado Ar 76
- Arado Ar 77
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