The Arado E.500 was a concept for a heavy fighter created by Arado Flugzeugwerke in 1936.

Arado E.500
Role Heavy fighter
National origin German Reich (Nazi period) Deutsches Reich
Manufacturer Arado Flugzeugwerke
First flight
Introduction
Produced
Number built Not produced

Description edit

Due to a relatively short fuselage and an extended twin tail boom this aircraft type could accommodate a heavy attack and defense armament. The latter consisted of two revolving turrets on the upper and lower fuselage, each equipped with two 20 mm guns. The upper turret would be manually operated by a gunner, while the second gunner, located on the fuselage underside in a trough, aimed it via a periscope installation. The third gunner operated the fixed weapons in the nose of the machine. It had a twin tail.[1]

Arado developed a 1:1 mock-up; however, it did not find the interest of the Technical Office of the Ministry of Aviation. The project was subsequently discontinued.

Specifications edit

General characteristics

  • Crew: Four
  • Powerplant: 2 × DB 603

Performance Armament

  • Guns:
    • Two Rh-LB-202 20 mm cannons in dorsal turret
    • Two Rh-LB-202 20 mm cannons in ventral gun position controlled by periscope

[2]

References edit

  1. ^ Jörg Armin Kranzhoff (1997). "Arado+E.500"&dq="Arado+E.500" Arado: History of an Aircraft Company. Schiffer Book for Collectors. pp. 105, 107. ISBN 9780764302930.
  2. ^ Jean-Denis G.G. Lepage (2009), Aircraft of the Luftwaffe, 1935–1945: An Illustrated Guide, Koblenz: McFarland, ISBN 978-0-7864-5280-4