Luftwaffe Czechoslovakian Air Force Hungarian Air Force Romanian Air Force
Number built
2,891
The Arado Ar 96 is a single-engine, low-wing monoplane of all-metal construction, designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Arado Flugzeugwerke. It was the Luftwaffe's standard advanced trainer throughout the Second World War.
The Ar 96 was designed during the mid 1930s in response to a requirement issued by the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM/German Aviation Ministry) for a modern trainer. Arado produce a new design suitable for conducting various forms of training, including advanced flying, aerobatics, aerial reconnaissance, night flying, and radio operator training. Various trainee-friendly features were present, including aerodynamically balanced flight control surfaces, widely-set landing gear, and automatically deploying flaps. In late 1936, the first prototype was completed; five more prototypes followed with various improvements, such as the use of a more powerful engine, variable-pitch propeller, and automated slats. The first batch of Ar 96A aircraft were delivered during late 1939.
By the end of 1940, the Ar 96 was becoming a common sight at many Germany pilot training schools, where they were often regarded as being relatively rugged, easy to fly and maintain, and technologically up-to-date aircraft. During the Battle of Berlin, on the evening of 28 April 1945, test pilot Hanna Reitsch flew with the Luftwaffe head Generalfeldmarschall Robert Ritter von Greim out from Berlin in an Ar 96. Arado continued to develop the type throughout the war, proposing various models as well as enacting various manufacturing changes to minimise production time as well as the use of strategic materials. Shadow production of the Ar 96 was undertaken by Letov and the Avia factory in occupied Czechoslovakia; they continued to manufacture the type for several years after the end of the conflict under the designation of Avia C-2B. A wooden version, known as the Ar 396, was built in France and was designated the SIPA S.10.
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