Arado Ar 95W Plans |
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The Arado Ar 95 was a biplane floatplane designed to replace the Heinkel He 60, but which was rejected for German service and instead sold on the export market.
The Ar 95 was designed by Dipl Ing W. Blume in 1935. It was a twin float two seat biplane for use in the reconnaissance, patrol and light attack roles.
The prototypes were given civil registrations. The first prototype, Ar 95 D-OLUO, was powered by a 880hp BMW 132 Dc nine-cylinder radial engine, and made its maiden flight in 1936.
The second prototype, Ar 95 D-OHEO, used a 690hp Junkers Jumo 210 twelve-cylinder inverted V liquid cooled engine.
The Ar 95 competed against the similar Focke-Wulf Fw 62. The radial powered Ar 95 probably won these trials, as six Ar 95s of that design were sent to Spain in August 1938 to be tested in combat in the Spanish Civil War.
Ar 95 D-ODGX was built as a prototype for a planned production version. This had a long canopy over both cockpits, open at the back to allow for the flexibly mounted rear facing 7.9mm machine gun. It also carried a fixed forward firing machine gun and could carry a 1,544lb torpedo or similar weight of bombs. It was of all metal construction, with single step floats that were braced to the lower wing and fuselage, with a gap between for the torpedo. It had slightly staggered swept back wings.
In 1937 the Ar 95 lost out to the Heinkel He 114, which was ordered for service on German warships. The He 114 would soon be replaced by the Arado Ar 196, which became the standard floatplane carried on German warships during the Second World War, as well as serving with coastal patrol and reconnaissance units.
After failing to gain a German order the Ar 95 was offered on the export market. Two versions were produced, the Ar 95W floatplane and the Ar 95L land plane. This had a fixed undercarriage with trouser fairings around the legs.
In 1938 the Ar 95W was sold to Turkey, while the Ar 95L was sold to Chile. The Chilean aircraft were delivered before the outbreak of war. The Turkish floatplanes were taken into German service as the Ar 95A, and was mainly used as a training aircraft with the Seeaufklarungsgruppen. It was initially used by 2./SAGr 125 and all of SAGr 126. In early 1943 they were transferred to SAGr 127, and from late in 1943 to late 1944 they were concentrated in 1./SAGr 127.
The Ar 95L became the basis of the Arado Ar 195, which was the first German aircraft produced to serve as a carrier borne interceptor and light bomber. Three prototypes were built, and made their maiden flights in 1937, before being replaced by the Arado Ar 197.
Ar 95A/W float plane
Engine: BMW 132 Dc nine-cylinder radial engine
Power: 880hp
Crew: 2
Span: 41ftr 0 1/8in
Length: 36ft 5in
Height: 17ft 0 3/4in
Empty weight: 5,402lb
Loaded weight: 7,872lb
Max speed: 192mph at 9,840ft
Climb Rate: 1,476ft/ min
Service ceiling: 23,944ft
Range: 683 miles
Armament: One fixed forward firing 7.9mm machine gun and one flexibly mounted rear 7.9mm machine gun
Bomb load: 1,544lb torpedo or similar weight of bombs
Aircraft of the Luftwaffe 1935-1945, Jean-Denis G.G. Lepage.
Combines a good background history of the Luftwaffe with a comprehensive examination of its aircraft, from the biplanes of the mid 1930s to the main wartime aircraft and on to the seemingly unending range of experimental designs that wasted so much effort towards the end of the war. A useful general guide that provides an impressively wide range of information on almost every element of the Luftwaffe
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Rear view of Arado Ar 95W