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The '''Arado Ar E.381''' was a [[parasite aircraft|miniature]] [[fighter aircraft]] ({{lang-de|Kleinstjäger}}) powered by the [[Walter HWK 109-509]] [[rocket engine]] and intended to intercept heavily armed American and British bombers after being carried aloft by its [[Arado]] [[Ar 234]] [[mother ship]]. The plane, conceived by [[Arado Flugzeugwerke]] in December 1944, exploited the desire to close the firing distance to a minimum, thus increasing odds of hitting the target. To enable survival of the interceptor in close pursuit, the E.381 was designed to have the narrowest frontal cross-section possible. According to Arado, the E.381 fuselage had a cross-section of 0.45 square meters, or one-quarter of the cross-section of [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]].<ref>Bf 109 had a cross-section of 1.8 square meters. See Rennenberg and Walker 2003, p. 103. </ref>. |
The '''Arado Ar E.381''' was a [[parasite aircraft|miniature]] [[fighter aircraft]] ({{lang-de|Kleinstjäger}}) powered by the [[Walter HWK 109-509]] [[rocket engine]] and intended to intercept heavily armed American and British bombers after being carried aloft by its [[Arado]] [[Ar 234]] [[mother ship]]. The plane, conceived by [[Arado Flugzeugwerke]] in December 1944, exploited the desire to close the firing distance to a minimum, thus increasing odds of hitting the target. To enable survival of the interceptor in close pursuit, the E.381 was designed to have the narrowest frontal cross-section possible. According to Arado, the E.381 fuselage had a cross-section of 0.45 square meters, or one-quarter of the cross-section of [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]].<ref>Bf 109 had a cross-section of 1.8 square meters. See Rennenberg and Walker 2003, p. 103. </ref>. |
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The fighter's fuel capacity enabled only two target runs, after which the pilot had to glide back to the ground and land on skids in unpowered flight. Four prototypes of three distinct modifications were built by March 1944.<ref name=R103>Rennenberg and Walker 2003, p. 103.</ref><ref name="Luft46 E.381 Entry">{{cite web|url=http://www.luft46.com/arado/are381.html|title=Luft46 Arado Ar E.381 Entry|accessdate=15 June 2010}}</ref> |
The fighter's fuel capacity enabled only two target runs, after which the pilot had to glide back to the ground and land on skids in unpowered flight. Four prototypes of three distinct modifications were built by March 1944.<ref name=R103>Rennenberg and Walker 2003, p. 103.</ref><ref name="Luft46 E.381 Entry">{{cite web|url=http://www.luft46.com/arado/are381.html|title=Luft46 Arado Ar E.381 Entry|accessdate=15 June 2010}}</ref> THe project was eventually cancelled because of the impeding end of the war and the [[Third Reich]]. |
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==Development== |
==Development== |
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Revision as of 05:09, 4 August 2010
| Arado Ar E.381 | |
|---|---|
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| An Ar E.381 prototype suspended under the belly of an Ar 234 mother ship. | |
| Role | Parasite fighter |
| National origin |  Nazi Germany
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| Manufacturer | Arado |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Primary user | Nazi Germany
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The Arado Ar E.381 was a miniature fighter aircraft (German: Kleinstjäger) powered by the Walter HWK 109-509 rocket engine and intended to intercept heavily armed American and British bombers after being carried aloft by its Arado Ar 234 mother ship. The plane, conceived by Arado Flugzeugwerke in December 1944, exploited the desire to close the firing distance to a minimum, thus increasing odds of hitting the target. To enable survival of the interceptor in close pursuit, the E.381 was designed to have the narrowest frontal cross-section possible. According to Arado, the E.381 fuselage had a cross-section of 0.45 square meters, or one-quarter of the cross-section of Messerschmitt Bf 109.[1].
The fighter's fuel capacity enabled only two target runs, after which the pilot had to glide back to the ground and land on skids in unpowered flight. Four prototypes of three distinct modifications were built by March 1944.[2][3] THe project was eventually cancelled because of the impeding end of the war and the Third Reich.
Development
Close to the close of World War II, Arado, BMW, Gotha, Heinkel, Henschel and Zeppelin submitted design proposals for small rocket- or jet-powered aircraft intended for pursuit or ground attack duties.[4] All these proposals exploited the Nazi concept of "gaining a tactical advantage by placing excessive stress on the man in cockpit".[2] The level of g-forces envisioned in these proposals was feasible for aircraft structures but exceeded human capabilities. The designers attempted to alleviate this constraint by placing the pilot in prone position, which increased sustainable g-force limit.[2] This also allowed a reduction in fuselage size, weight and drag. Smaller cross-section decreased the odds of being hit by enemy gunners, and Arado exploited this opportunity to the full. According to their "specific design philosophy",[2] the interceptor was designed to fly as close to bomber formations and open fire from its MK 108 cannon at point-blank range.[2]
The E.381 had its beginnings in a proposal from Arado Flugzeugwerke to the Air Ministry for a parasite fighter to destroy Allied bombers. The Arado Ar E.381I, Arado Ar E.381II and Arado Ar E.381III were the three versions of the E.381. Each version were practically armored tubes that were provided with armament and an rocket engine for power. The fuel tank capacity was sufficient for two approaches to the target; the ammunition was limited to forty-five 30 mm rounds.[2] After the attack, the fuel burnt out and the pilot had to glide back to the ground, deploy the drogue parachute and land on its primitive skid landing gear.[2][3]
Arado Ar E.381I
The first version, the Arado Ar E.381I, had a fuselage with a circular cross-section with a small round window in the nose for pilot vision. Almost all of the fuselage was protected by a 5 mm armored shell. The pilot would lie in in a prone position, and the cockpit was very cramped. A removable 140 mm bullet-resistant glass screen was mounted before the pilot. Two small bulges were located on the sides of the fuselage for the pilot's elbows. Around the pilot were three C-Stoff tanks, with the T-Stoff tank in the center section between the pilot and the engine. The wings were straight, with a stepped bulge above the wings which held the single MK 108 30 mm cannon with 60[3] (45[2]) rounds. The Walter HWK 109-509B[2] rocket engine was mounted beneath the tail boom which carried a twin-fin empennage and the drogue chute housing.
The landing skid was made retractable, and landing required prior braking action of a drogue chute. The aircraft could only be entered from a hatch above the cockpit, so the pilot had to enter the E.381 before the aircraft could be attached to the carrier Ar 234 and had no way to escape in case of an emergency.[3]
Arado Ar E.381II
The second version, the Arado Ar E.381II, was very much the same, except larger and with smaller fins.[3]
Arado Ar E.381III
Again, the aircraft was enlarged in the third version, the Arado Ar E.381III. This time, however, the aircraft had a triangular instead of circular cross-section. Also, instead of a gun, the new version had six rockets. The landing procedure was unchanged. A hatch was added on the side to provide for pilot entrance and exiting.[3]
Specifications
Data from Aircraft of the Luftwaffe 1935-1945: An Illustrated History[5]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 pilot
Performance
Armament
Notes
References
- Rennenberg, Monika (2003). Science, Technology, and National Socialism. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521528607.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Lepage, Jean-Denis (2009). Aircraft of the Luftwaffe 1935–1945: An Illustrated History. McFarland. ISBN 0786439378.