NAZI Connection
Arado Ar E.555 series
..

In mid-December 1943, at the Arado facilities in Landeshut/Schlesien, work began on a flying wing project series under the direction of Dr.-Ing. W. Laute. This was further elaborated by Dipl. Ing. Kosin and Lehmann of Arado under the title of "Long Range/High Speed Flying Wing Aircraft". A discussion took place with the RLM several months later in early 1944, and Arado was asked to compile design studies for a long range jet powered bomber. Since the requirements were high speed, a bomb load of at least 4000 kg (8818 lbs) and a range of 5000 km (3107 miles), it was realized that the project could best be fulfilled by using a flying wing design with a laminar high speed profile. The number of designs eventually reached fifteen, and included strategic bombers, remote controlled weapons carriers and fighters.

The Arado Ar E.555-1 was constructed entirely of metal (both steel and Duraluminum), and was basically a flying wing with a short, circular cross section forward fuselage where the pressurized cockpit was located. There were two large vertical fins and rudders that sat 6.2 m (20' 4") from the centerline of the aircraft. The main landing gear undercarriage consisted of two tandem, dual wheeled units that retracted inwards into the wing, and the front landing gear was a single, dual wheeled unit that retracted to the rear to lie beneath the cockpit. A droppable auxialiary landing gear could be used for overload conditions. Power was to be provided by six BMW 003A, all located on the rear upper surface of the wing. Defensive armament consisted of two MK 103 30mm cannon in the wing roots near the cockpit, a remote controlled turret armed with two MG 151/20 20mm cannon located just behind the cockpit and a further two MG 151/20 20mm cannon in a remote controlled tail turret, which was controlled via a periscope in a pressurized weapons station behind the cockpit area.

On December 28, 1944, Arado was ordered to cease all work on the E.555 series, probably due to the worsening war situation, and the need to concentrate aircraft development and production on fighters.
 
 

Arado Ar E.555 Models
Manufacturer Scale Material Notes
Revell   #04367 1/72 Injected & Decals Excellent kit, many features

Arado E.555 Series
Note: Some references differ as to the version numbers 
E.555-1

Engines:
6 BMW 003
E.555-2

Engines:
4 He S 011
E.555-3

Engines:
2 BMW 018
E.555-4

Engines:
3 BMW 018
E.555-6

Engines:
3 BMW 018
 
E.555-7

Engines:
3 BMW 018
E.555-8a/8b

Engines:
3 BMW 018
E.555-9

Engines:
3 BMW 018
E.555-10

Engines:
3 BMW 018
E.555-11 (14)

Engines:
4 BMW 018

 

Arado Ar E.555-1

Arado Ar E.555-1 Data
Span Length Height Wing Area Max Speed Max Ceiling Range* Takeoff Weight Bomb Load Crew
21.2 m 
69' 7"
--- 5.0 m 
16' 4"
125 m² 
1345.5 ft²
860 km/h 
534 mph
15000 m 
49212'
4800 km 
2983 miles
24000 kg 
52911 lbs
4000 kg 
8818 lbs
3
* with supplementary fuel tank
 

Arado Ar E.555-3

Arado Ar E.555-3 Data
Span Length Height Wing Area Max Speed Range Takeoff Weight Fuel Bomb Load Crew
21.2 m 
69' 7"
18.4 m 
60' 4"
--- 125 m² 
1345.5 ft²
915 km/h 
569 mph
4000 km 
2485 miles
25200 kg 
55556 lbs
10000 kg 
22046 lbs
4000 kg 
8818 lbs
2

 

Arado Ar E.555-6

Arado Ar E.555-6 Data
Span Length Height Wing Area Max Speed Range* Fuel Bomb Load Crew
28.4 m 
93' 2"
12.35 m 
40' 6"
3.74 m 
12' 3"
160 m² 
1722 ft²
920 km/h 
572 mph
7500 km 
4660 mph
18750 kg 
41337 lbs
4000 kg 
8818 lbs
3
* with supplementary fuel tank
 

Arado Ar E.555-7

Arado Ar E.555-7 Data
Span Length Height Wing Area Max Speed Range Flying Weight Fuel Bomb Load Crew
25.2 m 
82' 8"
8.8 m 
28' 10"
3.65 m 
12' 0"
160 m² 
1722 ft²
950 km/h 
590 miles
5000 km 
3107 miles
41300 kg 
91051 lbs
15700 kg 
34613 lbs
4000 kg 
8818 lbs
3

 
 

Arado Ar E.555-10

Arado Ar E.555-10 Data
Span Length Height Wing Area Max Speed Range Flying Weight Bomb Load Crew
23.66 m 
77' 8'
19.2 m 
63' 0"
--- 140 m² 
1506.9 ft² 
920 km/h 
572 mph
6400 km 
3977 miles
47845 kg 
105480 lbs
4000 kg 
8818 lbs
3

Arado Ar E.555-11 (14)

Arado Ar E.555-11 (14) Data
Span Length Height Wing Area Max Speed Range Flying Weight Bomb Load Crew
23.66 m 
77' 8'
25.1 m 
82' 4"
4.1 m 
13' 5"
140 m² 
1506.9 ft²
1020 km/h 
634 mph
8000 km 
4971 miles
47000 kg 
103617 lbs
6000 kg 
13228 lbs
2

Above images from Geheimprojekte der Luftwaffe Band II: Strategische Bomber 1935-1945

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