Arado Ar 65

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 the 12-cylinder inline versus the 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 the prototypes while the 65d-f were the 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. But 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
Bulgarian Air Force Luftwaffe
 * 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
 * 🇩🇪 Germany