Germany's Arado Ar 96 trainer

Photos

Arado Ar 96 trainer:

Design

The Arado Ar 96 was the standard Luftwaffe trainer.²

The Arado Ar 96 was of all metal construction.¹

Prototype

The Ar 96V1 was first flown in 1938.^1,2

Production

The Arado 96s were constructed by Ago, Arado, Avia, and Letov.¹ Avia and Letov were in Czechoslovakia.¹

• Arado Ar 96: 11,546¹
• Postwar by Letov: 181¹
• Postwar by Avia: 394¹

Variants

• Arado Ar 96V1: Prototype.¹
• Arado Ar 96A: Production model.¹ Entered service in 1939.¹
• Arado Ar 96B: Had more powerful engine.¹ Entered service in early 1940.¹
• Arado Ar 96B-1: Unarmed.¹
• Arado Ar 96B-2: Had one 7.92 mm MG above engine for gunnery practice.¹
• Arado Ar 96B-5: Had better radio equipment.¹
• Arado Ar 396: Prototype built by SIPA (France) and Letov (Czechoslovakia) before end of World War II.¹ Had metal and wood construction.¹ Used the Argus As 411 engine (580 HP).¹

Usage

The Ar 96 was used by Germany, Hungary, and Romania.¹

Primarily used as a trainer, the Arado Ar 96 was also used in liaison, glider towing, reconnaissance, and communication roles.¹ Some were even equipped with a pair of 7.9 mm MGs in gondolas under the wings and then used as attack aircraft on the Russian front.¹

After World War II

The Arado Ar 96s were developed in Czechoslovakia and France after World War II.¹

Specifications