| Ar 65 | |
|---|---|
![]()  | |
| Role | Biplane fighter | 
| Manufacturer | Arado | 
| First flight | 1931 | 
| Primary user | Luftwaffe | 
| Produced | 1931-1936 | 
| Number built | 85 | 
The Arado Ar 65 was the single-seat biplane fighter successor to the Ar 64. Both looked very similar. The only major difference was the use of a 12-cylinder inline engine versus the Ar 64's radial. The wingspan was also increased.
The Ar 65 appeared in 1931 and six models were built. The first three 65a-c were prototypes, while the 65d-f were production models. The Ar 65d was delivered in 1933 and served alongside the Ar 64 in the two fighter groups - Fliegergruppe Döberitz and Fliegergruppe Damm. In 1935, the Ar 65 was reduced to a training aircraft. Production of the fighter was discontinued in 1936. However, the next year, 12 of them were presented to Germany's ally - the Royal Bulgarian Air Force. The final production total was 85 aircraft.
Variants
- Ar 65a
 - Prototype, powered by a 559 kW (750 hp) BMW VI 7.3 12-cylinder water-cooled engine. First flight in 1931.
 - Ar 65b
 - Prototype, similar to the 65a but with minor structural changes.
 - Ar 65c
 - Prototype, similar to the 65b but with minor structural changes.
 - Ar 65d
 - Production model.
 - Ar 65E
 - Similar to the 65d, but with the removal of the vertical fuselage magazine of six 10 kg (22 lb) bombs.
 - Ar 65F
 - Final production model. Similar to the 65E.
 
Operators
Specifications (Ar 65E)

Data from Warplanes of the Third Reich [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
 - Length: 8.4 m (27 ft 7 in)
 - Wingspan: 11.2 m (36 ft 9 in)
 - Height: 3.42 m (11 ft 3 in)
 - Wing area: 23 m2 (250 sq ft)
 - Empty weight: 1,510 kg (3,329 lb)
 - Gross weight: 1,930 kg (4,255 lb)
 - Fuel capacity: 218 L (58 US gal; 48 imp gal)
 - Powerplant: 1 × BMW VI 7.3z V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 560 kW (750 hp) for take-off, 370 kW (500 hp) continuous maximum power
 
Performance
- Maximum speed: 300 km/h (190 mph, 160 kn) at 1,650 m (5,410 ft)
 - Cruise speed: 246 km/h (153 mph, 133 kn) at 1,400 m (4,600 ft)
 - Range: 560 km (350 mi, 300 nmi)
 - Service ceiling: 7,600 m (24,935 ft)
 - Rate of climb: 10.60 m/s (2,086 ft/min)
 - Time to altitude: 
 
- 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 1.5 minutes
 - 5,000 m (16,000 ft) in 10.6 minutes
 
Armament
- Guns: 2 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17 machine guns with 500 rpg.
 
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
Bibliography
- Green, William, and Gordon Swanborough, The Complete Book of Fighters (Salamander Books, 2002)
 - Ledet, Michel (April 1997). "Le Arado Ar 65, première chasseur d'Hitler (deuxième partie et fin)" [Hitler's First Fighter, the Arado Ar 65]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (49): 17–21. ISSN 1243-8650.
 
