Arado Ar 96
Arado Flugzeugwerke · German Reich · first flew 1938 · light aircraft
The Arado Ar 96 was the standard advanced trainer of the German Luftwaffe during World War II, a low-wing monoplane with enclosed cockpit and retractable undercarriage that trained the majority of Luftwaffe pilots.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Luftwaffe standard advanced trainer of World War II
- Enclosed tandem cockpit low-wing monoplane
- Retractable undercarriage with inline engine
Identified by its clean low-wing layout, enclosed tandem canopy, retractable tailwheel undercarriage, and the inline engine with a smooth NACA cowling.
Specifications
- The Arado Ar 96 has a length of 9.1 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 330 km/h (205 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1938, the Ar 96 was built in large numbers by Arado, Avia, AGO, and Letov throughout the war. Over 11,000 were produced, making it one of the most numerous German training aircraft. Its modern design gave student pilots experience similar to the combat monoplanes they would go on to fly.
Variants
The Ar 96A used the Argus As 410 engine while the main production Ar 96B used the more powerful Argus As 411; both featured enclosed tandem cockpits.
Where you'll see it
The Ar 96 served with Luftwaffe flying schools throughout Europe and continued in service with several air forces after 1945, including in Czechoslovakia and France.
Related aircraft
- Arado Ar 198
- Arado Ar 79
- Arado Ar 195
- Arado Ar 196
- Aeronca 50 Chief
- Aichi E12A
- Caproni Ca.164
- DFS SG 38 Schulgleiter
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.