Aircraft Quiz No.115

[Doug Robertson]

What aircraft, as originally proposed, would not have any landing gear, a feature which would result in a great weight saving. Takeoffs would be facilitated by a jettison-able three-wheeled cart that left the aircraft as soon as the plane was airborne.

Landing the aircraft was facilitated by retractable skids (into the fuselage and engine nacelles). The first-built aircraft used the cart for takeoff and the skids for landing.

The aircraft was originally missioned as a reconnaissance plane, later fitted with bomb racks, both external and internal. Just to confuse you more, because of its excellent performance, it was also tested as a fighter, but the war ended before that version was available.

1. Full Name of aircraft?

2. Top speed?

3. Country of build?

4. Year of first flight?

[moxy]

I believe the following may be correct.

1. Arado 234 Model V1. Later named Blitz.

2. Arado reckoned it would do 480 mph with it's Jumo 004 engines but records appear to show maximum speed of 461 mph. This was a later model though.

3. Germany

4. July 30th 1943 at Rheine airfield now Rheine-Bentlage Air Base.

Best regards
Rob

[Doug Robertson]

BINGO!!! My congrats to Rob, good enough! My source only differs with top speed over 500 mph at 19,000 feet altitude. The Arado Blitz was also tested as a fighter aircraft. And unarmed versions for reconnaissance saw action in the fall of 1944. A few bomber versions appeared even later, according to my source. (Which I prefer to not name).