Arado SSD I
Arado Flugzeugwerke · Germany · first flew 1930 · fighter
The Arado SSD I was a biplane fighter seaplane developed in Germany in 1930, intended to be launched from catapults on warships.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Slightly gulled top wing attached to the upper fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unequal-span, staggered biplane
- Slightly gulled top wing attached to the upper fuselage
- Seaplane form had a single large float under the fuselage and two outrigger floats near the wingtips
A staggered biplane fighter with a 650 hp BMW VI engine and two fixed forward-firing 7.92 mm machine guns.
Specifications
- The Arado SSD I has a length of 8.5 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 280 km/h (174 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was an all-new design by Walter Rethel, unrelated to his other fighter designs for Arado of the late 1920s, and first flew in 1930.
Variants
Only one was built. After evaluation at Travemünde the floats were removed and a simple wheeled undercarriage fitted.
Where you'll see it
It was evaluated alongside the Heinkel HD 38 at Lipetsk, and the Heinkel was selected. The SSD I was relegated to trainer duties with the LVS in 1932.
Related aircraft
- Arado Ar 64
- Arado Ar 65
- Arado L I
- Arado L II
- Armstrong Whitworth A.W.16
- Boeing XP-15
- Boeing XP-9
- Curtiss F6C-6 Hawk
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