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1. 12:23 PM - Arado Folding or removable wing design (Scott Perkins)
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| Subject: | Arado Folding or removable wing design |
--> Seaplane-List message posted by: Scott Perkins <2scott@bellsouth.net>
Further to my interest in folding wing technologies, I just found
out about the German U-Boat scout planes. here is all I have found.
There some wing fold clues to operation which can be seen from the
attached
front view are not so unique as I think maybe the float-fold might be.
Six minutes from storage to deployment would be pretty good for our
purposes
today. I sure would like to know the definitive details of how every
thing worked. The US and allies did not have a portable sub plane that
folded
so small or so quickly....
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"Arado Ar 231
(Germany)
The Ar 231 was a small reconnaissance floatplane, built in easily
detachable sections, to be stored on an U-boat. The Ar 231 was a
parasol-wing design, but for easier storage the right wing was attached
lower than the left wing, and the center section was angled. The Ar 231
could be stored in six minutes. Type: Ar 231V1
Function: reconnaissance
Year: 1941 Crew: 1 Engines: 1 * 120kW Hirth HM501
Wing Span: 10.18m Length: 7.81m Height: 3.12m Wing Area:
The only good thing about the Arado Ar 231 is that it was small, very
small. In fact it was so tiny that, after having folded one wing on top
of the other, the Ar 231 could be stored in a submarine's watertight,
cylindrical compartment, which was, of course, the intended purpose of
the aircraft.
Prior to the start of WWII, it was felt that it would be an advantage to
have a scouting aircraft that was capable of being carried aboard a
submarine. This would effectively extend the visible range of the sub
and allow for greater information regarding finding and eventually
sinking enemy shipping. To the goal, a specification was presented to
Arado in 1940 to build such a plane.
The requirement was that it be able to be stowed inside a 2 meter
container. As such, it had to be simple in design and easily assembled
for flight and stowage. Six prototypes were completed in 1941. The
aircraft appearing rather odd with its kink in the wing to enhance
stowage and the shortened tail fin.
It was realized that the U-boat would have to stay
stationary during the recovery period, rendering it vulnerable to enemy
attack. As a result, the program was cancelled in 1941, later to be
replaced by the much more useful Focke-Achgelis Fa-330 towable
helicopter."
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