What about the 4-engined AR234?

[Ripsnort]

You know, the 234C, when they started putting on something other than the Jumo's since they wanted the 262's to get these due to shortages...and had to use 4 engines to get the same power as the 2 Jumo's..someone want to post alittle history on those?

Will we get that AR234C as well?

 

[This message has been edited by Ripsnort (edited 01-25-2001).]

[Ripsnort]

 

Love that load out its carrying!

[brady]

 Quote from The German Jets in Combat by Jeffrey Ethell & Alfred Price

p.98/99

"During the closing stages of the war the  AR 234C, powered by 4 800kg thrust BMW 003 engines, was on the point of entering large scale production"

"During the finial weeks of the war 14 AR234C's were built.Dieter Lukesch was on the point of forming an operational staffel to test this version in action when the end came."

Brady

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[This message has been edited by brady (edited 01-25-2001).]

[Sundog]

The AR-234C was the fastest operational jet propelled aircraft to see service in World War II (542 MPH/873 KM/H for the C-3 variant).  They were also working on various fighter variants of this aircraft (Both Day and Night Fighter). Only one plane of the C-3's built was equipped with the tail guns but they all had the twin forward firing cannons ((1) MG151/20 model C and (1) MG151/20 Model D). As I am currently leafing back through the book, I can't find where it 'expressly' states why the change from two to four engines (Although I have read elsewhere that it was due to the Me-262) but they state that Arado was always interested in making a four engined version (partly due to the four engine jets on the drawing boards at the time).

A caption for a photo on pg. 92 of the book listed below states, ' The Ar-234 was the first aircraft in the world to be powered by four jet engines. Some considered it to be overpowered in this form but, with careful handling, it would have been a formidable opponent. The Ar-234 reconnaissance pilot, Erich Somer, was to comment:"Give me any power for climbing and acceleration. For adjusting to the Mach capability of my airframe, I can look after myself!" '

If you are really interested in this plane (The Ar-234 series), I can't recommend the following book enough:

Monarch - 1
Arado 234 Blitz
By Smith & Creek
ISBN:  0-914144-51-0
Published:  1992

Monogram Aviation

I recommend you try and find this at one of the 'out of print' book sites online (I believe someone posted some links for those in the O'Club not to long ago).

Addenda: BTW RIP, the Ar-234 sideview (second from bottom) in your planform picture, is a forward swept pylon on top of the fuselage with a small radar dish on top. i.e.- what you see there is a Luftwaffe AWACS bird.

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Sundog
VMF-111 Devildogs
'Criticism is always easier then craftmanship.'

[This message has been edited by Sundog (edited 01-25-2001).]

[Karnak]

According to my source, the Ar234C used 4 BMW 003 turbojet engines.

The BMW 003s produced a maximum thrust of 1760lbs each, for a total of 7040lbs of thrust.

The Ar234B used the Junkers Jumo 004 B.

The Junkers Jumo 004 Bs produced a maximum thrust of 1890lbs each, for a total of 3780lbs of thrust.

The maximum speed I have listed for the Ar234B is 470mph.

The maximum speed I have listed for the Ar234C is 546mph and an initial climb of 3,600ft per minute.

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We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother

Sisu
-Karnak

[Jigster]

I would assume the real reason for a 4 engine variant was due to the difficulty of maintaining the early jet engines. Least with four, if during a long flight, a single failure occured, the 234C would still be relatively safe (stability + less vulnerable)

Anyway, if the longer range versions had been completed and put into service they'd be a bit safer. Lucky for the 262 it's intercpet flights were short enough that that the pilots didn't suffer "blinky-light syndrome" like some of the US pilots doing proving flights of their jets. Although I'm sure that plenty Messerschmit test pilots and engineers did their fair share of unscrewing the fire warning light.

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