The original Ar 234 prototypes were launched from a jettisonable three-wheeled trolley and landed on skids attached to the belly of the aircraft and engine nacelles. From an operational standpoint, the trolley proved impractical (three jacks were required to reset the aircraft on the trolley) and the B-series was developed with a conventional tricycle-type, retractable landing gear. The fuselage was widened slightly to accommodate three large 'donut-style' low pressure tires, used to counter the narrow track landing gear.
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The Ar 234, V1 to the V5, were all powered by two Junkers Jumo 004 turbojet engines. The V3 had a pressurized cockpit, ejector seat and provisions for Rocket Assisted Takeoff (RATO). The V6 was powered by four BMW 003A-1 turbojet engines in separate nacelles. The V8 was also powered by four BMW 003A-1s, but these were mounted in paired nacelles. The V7 was the last of the A-series and was powered by two Junkers Jumo 004B-1 1,980 lb (900 kg) turbojets. During a test flight, the V7 port engine caught on fire causing the airplane to crash, killing Arado's chief test pilot, Flugakapitän Selle.4
The V9 was the first Ar 234B and made its maiden flight on March 10, 1944. It was fitted with a pressurized cockpit, ejection seat and two ETC 503 bomb racks beneath the engines and was used to test the BZA bomb aiming computer. The V10 was similar to the V9, but was not pressurized nor fitted with an ejection seat. The V11 was also similar to the V9.
The Arado Ar 234 Blitz (Lightning) was the world's first operational jet bomber, built by Arado in Germany during WWII. It was used by the Luftwaffe for reconnaissance from November 1944 and as a fast bomber against Allied targets from December of that year.
- アラド Ar 234 アラド Ar 234 B-2 用途 : 爆撃機 分類 :高速爆撃機 製造者 : アラド 社 運用者 : ドイツ国 ( ドイツ空軍 ) 初飛行 : 1943年 6月15日 生産数 :210+14機 運用開始 :1944年8月 *偵察機として 運用状況 :退役 表示 Ar 234 ブリッツ (Blitz:電撃の意)は、 第二次世界大戦 末期に ドイツ.
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- With the Ar 234 C-3 or C-3/N, German pilots could at least try to compensate in the bomber domain. This is a subreddit for War Thunder, a cross platform vehicular.
The V15 and V17 were both fitted with two BMW 003-1 turbojets, but the BMW 003 was a very troublesome engine when it first appeared. The BMW 003 suffered the same developmental problems as the Jumo 004, but after adopting the more successful Jumo throttle mechanism, the engine was finally ready for production. However, if the 003 experienced a flameout, it was very hard to restart in flight.
The V13 was similar to the V8 and fitted with four BMW 003A-1 turbojet engines in paired nacelles. The V13 arrangement was chosen to produce the Ar 234 C-series.5 The V26 and V30 were configured with a laminar flow wing.
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On July 12th 1944, after the six leading pilots of 616 Squadron had completed conversion training, the Gloster Meteor F1 became the allies first operational combat jet after a delayed entry almost 3 months after its German counterpart; The Messerschmitt Me 262. A total of 14 F1’s were the initial batch delivered to RAF Culmhead and began operations that day.
Meteor F1s stationed at RAF Manston, |
A week later and the Meteors were immediately moved to the Kent coast at RAF Manston. As they were forbidden to ever cross the channel into captured territory though fear of the aircraft falling into the German’s hands, the F1’s were deployed against the V1 “Buzzbombs” or “Doodlebugs” as they became known. Taking over the role from the Spitfire XIV and Tempest, the Meteor was much better suited at this and it provided a good countermeasure to the threat presented by the Vengeance weapons.
On July 27th, three patrolling Meteors were the first to see combat, facing V1’s crossing the Channel towards England. However due to the Hispano cannons jamming issues, it was not until August the 4th that the first V1 “Kill” was made, remarkably not even using the cannons. Flight Officer D “Dixie” Dean in the Meteor F Mk 1 EE216 managed to tip the V1 over using the wingtip to wingtip method as the Meteor could reliably keep up with the V1s at a stable pace.
Meteor F Mk 3’s on patrol |
Two days earlier on July 25th, the Me 262 had also had its operational combat debut after an encounter with a Photo Reconnaissance Mosquito from No. 554 Squadron. The Gloster Meteor and Messerschmitt Me 262 never saw each other in combat due to restrictions on both sides about where the aircraft were allowed to operate. As such the Meteor had a very short and brief combat spell during the war years with only a total of 20 F1s built, solely equipping 616 Squadron. By late 1944/45 once the V1 thread had died out the unit began aiding in the training of bomber and fighter crews on how to counter jets in air-to-air combat as the threat of the 262 grew larger and larger the further the allies advanced.
By December 18th 1944 616 squadron began to receive the F Mk 3 model to replace its F Mk 1’s. Generally much improved based on the feedback 616 provided from the sorties with the F1’s, it incorporated many new features as well as better engines. Finally on January 20th 1945, the decision was made to deploy the new F3's to the continent to protect airbases in liberated territory. The only “Jet combat” that was ever encountered by the Meteors was on the 19th March when a Ar 234 formation attacked the airfield where the Meteors were stationed in Belgium.
Arado 234 War Thunder
War Thunder Arado
In the coming years, the Gloster Meteor would become the backbone of RAF fighter command in its F4 and F8 variations. Used widely by other nations around the world in post war years, the Meteor ultimately bowed out of RAF frontline service with the advent of swept wing aircraft such as the Hawker Hunter, Supermarine Swift and Gloster Javelin.
Ar 234 War Thunder Pictures
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