299:
524:
435:
178:
29:
645:
467:
oxidizer tank in the center section between the pilot and the engine. The aircraft had straight wings, mounted at the top of the aircraft. In the dorsal area (at the wing mounts), the fuselage humped to accommodate a blister for a single MK 108 30 mm (1.2 in) cannon and 60 (other writers
213:
submitted design proposals for small rocket- or jet-powered aircraft intended for pursuit or ground-attack duties. All these proposals exploited the
Luftwaffe's concept of "gaining a tactical advantage by placing excessive stress on the man in the cockpit (the German pilot)". The
479:
Landing the aircraft required the extension of the retractable landing skid and the deployment of a braking drogue parachute. As pilots could access the plane only from a hatch above the cockpit, the pilot would have to enter the E.381 before it could be attached to the carrier
159:
There were three proposed variants; each had fuel capacity for only two target runs, after which the pilot would have been required to glide without power to a landing on underbelly skids. To survive close pursuits, the E.381 was designed with the narrowest frontal
492:
The second design, the Mark II, was very similar to the Mark I, aside from being larger and having smaller fins The variant was planned to have a deeper and shorter 5 m (16 ft 5 in) fuselage and a high mid-wing layout. It was to be powered by a
278:. None of the designs were ever completed due to its cancellation, though some wooden airframes and a single mockup were constructed in 1944 to provide prone-position training for pilots. The E.381 was cancelled due to a lack of funds and interest by the
497:
engine. The unit was rated at 1,700 kg (3,700 lb) of thrust. About a quarter of the way back from the nose, the fuselage deepened in the form of a hump which extended to the tail. This hump housed a single MK 108 cannon with 45 rounds.
265:
for power. The aircraft would have carried enough fuel for two approaches to the target as well as only sixty (some say forty-five) 30 mm (1.2 in) rounds. After using all his fuel during an attack it was intended that the pilot would
164:
possible to increase its chances of surviving shots from the front. This also forced the pilot to lie in a prone position. The cross-section was 0.45 square meters (4.8 sq ft), or approximately a quarter of the cross-section of the
506:
The third design, the Mark III, was also similar to the Mark I, aside from being larger than any of the preceding variants. The circular cross-section of the previous variants became more triangular and the 30-millimeter (1.2 in)
227:. A smaller cross-section also decreased the likelihood of being hit by enemy gunners, and Arado exploited this opportunity to the fullest. According to their "specific design philosophy", the fighter was designed to fly close to
446:
with a circular cross-section and a small round window in the nose for pilot vision. A 5-millimeter (0.20 in) armored shell protected most of the fuselage. The pilot would have been in a prone position in the very cramped
218:
envisioned in these proposals were feasible for aircraft structures but exceeded human capabilities in a normal sitting position. The designers attempted to alleviate this constraint by placing the pilot in the
1338:
250:, carried underneath another aircraft, to destroy Allied bombers. Three variants of the E.381, named Mark I, II and III, were designed. Each version was essentially an
1034:
996:
975:
956:
937:
918:
899:
880:
857:
1343:
459:
screen mounted in front of the pilot. Two small bulges were located on the sides of the fuselage for the pilot's elbows. Three
279:
848:
Albrecht, Ulrich (2002). "Military
Technology and National Socialist Ideology". In Renneberg, Monika; Walker, Mark (eds.).
986:
1027:
451:(the cross-section was 0.45 square meters (4.8 sq ft), or approximately a quarter of the cross-section of the
302:
An "x-ray" sideview drawing of the Mark II's fuselage interior. The main features outlined are present in all versions.
1353:
1348:
658:
161:
223:, which increased the sustainable g-force limit. This also allowed a reduction in fuselage size, weight, and
1333:
1020:
663:
156:(mainly American and British) bombers. Development was cancelled due to lack of funds and official support.
894:. Ballantine's Illustrated History of World War II: Weapons Book, No. 20. New York, NY: Ballantine Books.
456:
243:
210:
153:
523:
511:
was replaced with six rockets of an unspecified type. Although the landing procedure was unchanged, a
177:
452:
198:
166:
37:
1043:
687:
This figure is from Arado. The Bf 109 had a cross-section of 1.8 square meters (19 sq ft)
585:
190:
128:
75:
629:
494:
469:
259:
181:
A computer-rendered image of an Arado E.381 suspended under the belly of the Ar 234C mother ship
992:
971:
952:
933:
914:
895:
876:
853:
206:
120:
47:
290:
jet engined aircraft intended for this purpose was never flight tested before the war's end.
1310:
271:
247:
123:
50:
650:
472:
A single-chamber rocket engine was mounted beneath the aft fuselage, which also carried a
869:
668:
224:
220:
1327:
1240:
620:
508:
262:
232:
149:
1290:
1190:
1185:
1180:
1165:
1160:
1155:
1150:
1145:
1140:
1135:
1130:
1125:
1120:
481:
298:
283:
275:
186:
145:
141:
133:
28:
534:
Aircraft of the
Luftwaffe 1935–1945: An Illustrated History for the Arado E.381/I
484:
and had no way to escape in case of an emergency, while attached to the carrier.
1295:
1285:
1275:
1250:
1245:
1235:
1230:
1225:
1220:
1215:
1210:
1200:
1195:
1175:
1170:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1090:
1085:
1080:
1075:
1070:
1065:
1060:
1055:
434:
1280:
1270:
1260:
640:
228:
1305:
1300:
1265:
1255:
473:
137:
93:
512:
443:
255:
215:
930:
Luftwaffe Secret
Projects: Ground Attack & Special Purpose Aircraft
464:
460:
448:
287:
267:
202:
65:
515:
was added on the side to provide for simpler pilot entry and exit.
144:, the E.381 was to have been carried aloft by and launched from an
522:
433:
251:
176:
1012:
1016:
852:. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 88–125.
194:
911:
Jet Planes of the Third Reich: The Secret
Projects, Volume 1
36:
Model of an Arado Ar 234 V21 carrying an Arado E.381 at the
988:
Aircraft of the
Luftwaffe 1935–1945: An Illustrated History
282:, along with a scarcity of mother Ar 234 aircraft — the
189:, in December 1944, the German aircraft manufacturers
148:"mother" aircraft. It would then have activated its
455:.) behind a removable 140-millimeter (5.5 in)
913:. Sturbridge, MA: Monogram Aviation Publications.
868:
105:0 powered aircraft, 4 unmanned wooden airframes.
1339:Abandoned military aircraft projects of Germany
1028:
8:
274:, and land the aircraft on a primitive skid
850:Science, Technology, and National Socialism
725:
723:
721:
119: – "smallest fighter") was a proposed
1035:
1021:
1013:
743:
741:
739:
737:
735:
305:
152:, which would have propelled it to attack
603:900 km/h (560 mph, 490 kn)
951:. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press.
871:Germany's Secret Weapons in World War II
794:
792:
790:
297:
949:German Aircraft of the Second World War
711:
709:
707:
705:
703:
699:
680:
780:
778:
776:
774:
772:
770:
768:
766:
764:
762:
270:the fighter to the ground, deploy its
18:
968:Arado: History of an Aircraft Company
463:tanks surrounded the pilot, with the
7:
947:Kay, Antony L.; Smith, J.R. (2002).
932:. Hinckley, UK: Midland Publishing.
928:Herwig, Dieter; Rode, Heinz (2003).
442:The first design, the Mark I, had a
238:The E.381 began in a proposal from
875:. Osceola, WI: MBI Publishing Co.
560:4.43 m (14 ft 6 in)
554:4.69 m (15 ft 5 in)
476:and the drogue parachute housing.
14:
566:1.29 m (4 ft 3 in)
643:
619:1 × 30-millimeter (1.2 in)
527:A three-view of an Arado E.381/I
27:
966:Krantzhoff, Jörg Armin (1997).
420:272 kg/m (55.8 lb/ft)
411:5.5 m (59 sq ft)
391:235 kg/m (51.8 lb/ft)
362:240 kg/m (49.1 lb/ft)
1:
578:1,200 kg (2,646 lb)
423:895 km/h (556 mph)
417:1,500 kg (3,300 lb)
394:885 km/h (550 mph)
388:1,265 kg (2,789 lb)
382:5 m (54 sq ft)
365:900 km/h (560 mph)
359:1,200 kg (2,600 lb)
353:5 m (54 sq ft)
991:. Jefferson, NC: McFarland.
985:Lepage, Jean-Denis (2009).
572:830 kg (1,830 lb)
356:830 kg (1,830 lb)
1370:
405:5.05 m (16.6 ft)
373:4.95 m (16.2 ft)
347:4.43 m (14.5 ft)
344:4.69 m (15.4 ft)
1051:
659:Emergency Fighter Program
408:1.51 m (5.0 ft)
379:1.15 m (3.8 ft)
350:1.29 m (4.2 ft)
335:
332:
329:
326:
323:
320:
317:
314:
311:
35:
26:
21:
970:. Atglen, PA: Schiffer.
909:Griehl, Manfred (1998).
519:Specifications (E.381/I)
1344:Rocket-powered aircraft
890:Green, William (1971).
825:Herwig and Rode, p. 206
729:Herwig and Rode, p. 207
715:Krantzhoff, pp. 153–156
664:List of rocket aircraft
539:General characteristics
402:5.7 m (19 ft)
231:and open fire from its
528:
495:Walter HWK 109-509 A-2
457:bullet-resistant glass
439:
303:
235:at point-blank range.
182:
747:Kay and Smith, p. 388
588:liquid-fuelled rocket
526:
437:
414:0 kg (0 lb)
385:0 kg (0 lb)
376:5 m (16 ft)
301:
180:
132:in December 1944 for
867:Ford, Roger (2000).
468:say 45) rounds. The
453:Messerschmitt Bf 109
280:Ministry of Aviation
167:Messerschmitt Bf 109
38:Technikmuseum Speyer
16:German WWII aircraft
834:Griehl, pp. 150–155
798:Lepage, pp. 257–258
586:Walter HWK 109-509A
308:
254:tube provided with
240:Arado Flugzeugwerke
129:Arado Flugzeugwerke
816:Green, pp. 145–146
529:
474:twin-fin empennage
470:Walter HWK 109-509
440:
306:
304:
260:Walter HWK 109-509
183:
90:Primary user
1354:Mid-wing aircraft
1349:Parasite aircraft
1319:
1318:
998:978-0-7864-3937-9
977:978-0-7643-0293-0
958:978-1-55750-010-6
939:978-1-85780-150-7
920:978-0-914144-36-6
901:978-0-345-02163-2
882:978-0-7603-0847-9
859:978-0-521-52860-3
427:
426:
307:Comparison table
229:bomber formations
109:
108:
1361:
1037:
1030:
1023:
1014:
1008:
1006:
1005:
981:
962:
943:
924:
905:
886:
874:
863:
835:
832:
826:
823:
817:
814:
808:
805:
799:
796:
785:
784:Albrecht, p. 103
782:
757:
754:
748:
745:
730:
727:
716:
713:
688:
685:
653:
648:
647:
646:
611:
596:
541:
309:
272:drogue parachute
248:parasite fighter
185:Near the end of
124:fighter aircraft
102:
62:
54:Type of aircraft
31:
19:
1369:
1368:
1364:
1363:
1362:
1360:
1359:
1358:
1324:
1323:
1320:
1315:
1047:
1041:
1011:
1003:
1001:
999:
984:
978:
965:
959:
946:
940:
927:
921:
908:
902:
889:
883:
866:
860:
847:
843:
838:
833:
829:
824:
820:
815:
811:
806:
802:
797:
788:
783:
760:
756:Albrecht, p.101
755:
751:
746:
733:
728:
719:
714:
701:
697:
692:
691:
686:
682:
677:
651:Aviation portal
649:
644:
642:
639:
632:(Mark III only)
612:
607:
592:
537:
521:
504:
502:Arado E.381/III
490:
432:
296:
175:
126:. Conceived by
100:
61:National origin
60:
55:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1367:
1365:
1357:
1356:
1351:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1334:Arado aircraft
1326:
1325:
1317:
1316:
1314:
1313:
1308:
1303:
1298:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1198:
1193:
1188:
1183:
1178:
1173:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1153:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1118:
1113:
1108:
1103:
1098:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1052:
1049:
1048:
1042:
1040:
1039:
1032:
1025:
1017:
1010:
1009:
997:
982:
976:
963:
957:
944:
938:
925:
919:
906:
900:
892:Rocket Fighter
887:
881:
864:
858:
844:
842:
839:
837:
836:
827:
818:
809:
800:
786:
758:
749:
731:
717:
698:
696:
693:
690:
689:
679:
678:
676:
673:
672:
671:
669:Sombold So 344
666:
661:
655:
654:
638:
635:
634:
633:
623:
605:
604:
601:Maximum speed:
590:
589:
579:
573:
567:
561:
555:
549:
520:
517:
503:
500:
489:
488:Arado E.381/II
486:
431:
428:
425:
424:
421:
418:
415:
412:
409:
406:
403:
400:
396:
395:
392:
389:
386:
383:
380:
377:
374:
371:
367:
366:
363:
360:
357:
354:
351:
348:
345:
342:
338:
337:
336:Maximum speed
334:
331:
330:Loaded weight
328:
325:
322:
319:
316:
313:
295:
292:
221:prone position
174:
171:
107:
106:
103:
97:
96:
91:
87:
86:
83:
79:
78:
73:
69:
68:
63:
57:
56:
53:
45:
41:
40:
33:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1366:
1355:
1352:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1337:
1335:
1332:
1331:
1329:
1322:
1312:
1309:
1307:
1304:
1302:
1299:
1297:
1294:
1292:
1289:
1287:
1284:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1239:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1224:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1204:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1179:
1177:
1174:
1172:
1169:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1149:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1109:
1107:
1104:
1102:
1099:
1097:
1094:
1092:
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1067:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1053:
1050:
1045:
1038:
1033:
1031:
1026:
1024:
1019:
1018:
1015:
1000:
994:
990:
989:
983:
979:
973:
969:
964:
960:
954:
950:
945:
941:
935:
931:
926:
922:
916:
912:
907:
903:
897:
893:
888:
884:
878:
873:
872:
865:
861:
855:
851:
846:
845:
840:
831:
828:
822:
819:
813:
810:
804:
801:
795:
793:
791:
787:
781:
779:
777:
775:
773:
771:
769:
767:
765:
763:
759:
753:
750:
744:
742:
740:
738:
736:
732:
726:
724:
722:
718:
712:
710:
708:
706:
704:
700:
694:
684:
681:
674:
670:
667:
665:
662:
660:
657:
656:
652:
641:
636:
631:
630:RZ 73 rockets
627:
624:
622:
621:MK 108 cannon
618:
615:
614:
613:
610:
602:
599:
598:
597:
595:
587:
583:
580:
577:
576:Gross weight:
574:
571:
570:Empty weight:
568:
565:
562:
559:
556:
553:
550:
547:
544:
543:
542:
540:
535:
533:
525:
518:
516:
514:
510:
509:MK 108 cannon
501:
499:
496:
487:
485:
483:
477:
475:
471:
466:
462:
458:
454:
450:
445:
438:Arado E.381/I
436:
430:Arado E.381/I
429:
422:
419:
416:
413:
410:
407:
404:
401:
398:
397:
393:
390:
387:
384:
381:
378:
375:
372:
369:
368:
364:
361:
358:
355:
352:
349:
346:
343:
340:
339:
327:Empty weight
312:Version/Mark
310:
300:
293:
291:
289:
285:
284:Arado Ar 234C
281:
277:
273:
269:
264:
263:rocket engine
261:
257:
253:
249:
245:
241:
236:
234:
233:MK 108 cannon
230:
226:
222:
217:
212:
208:
204:
200:
196:
192:
188:
179:
172:
170:
168:
163:
162:cross-section
157:
155:
151:
150:rocket engine
147:
143:
139:
135:
131:
130:
125:
122:
118:
114:
104:
99:
98:
95:
92:
89:
88:
84:
81:
80:
77:
74:
72:Manufacturer
71:
70:
67:
64:
59:
58:
52:
49:
46:
43:
42:
39:
34:
30:
25:
20:
1321:
1205:
1002:. Retrieved
987:
967:
948:
929:
910:
891:
870:
849:
841:Bibliography
830:
821:
812:
803:
752:
683:
625:
616:
608:
606:
600:
593:
591:
581:
575:
569:
563:
557:
551:
545:
538:
536:
531:
530:
505:
491:
478:
441:
276:landing gear
244:Air Ministry
239:
237:
187:World War II
184:
158:
146:Arado Ar 234
142:World War II
127:
117:Kleinstjäger
116:
112:
110:
101:Number built
22:Arado E.381
807:Ford, p. 17
594:Performance
582:Powerplant:
173:Development
113:Arado E.381
1328:Categories
1311:Projekt II
1004:2013-12-13
695:References
333:Wing load
324:Wing area
85:Abandoned
558:Wingspan:
532:Data from
318:Wingspan
138:Luftwaffe
94:Luftwaffe
1046:aircraft
637:See also
626:Rockets:
609:Armament
444:fuselage
294:Variants
256:armament
216:g-forces
211:Zeppelin
207:Henschel
121:parasite
48:Parasite
564:Height:
552:Length:
482:Ar 234C
465:T-Stoff
461:C-Stoff
449:cockpit
321:Height
315:Length
288:BMW 003
252:armored
242:to the
203:Heinkel
140:during
134:Germany
82:Status
66:Germany
51:fighter
1291:SD III
1191:Ar 532
1186:Ar 440
1181:Ar 432
1176:Ar 396
1171:Ar 296
1166:Ar 240
1161:Ar 234
1156:Ar 233
1151:Ar 232
1146:Ar 231
1141:Ar 199
1136:Ar 198
1131:Ar 197
1126:Ar 196
1121:Ar 195
995:
974:
955:
936:
917:
898:
879:
856:
258:and a
246:for a
209:, and
154:Allied
1296:SSD I
1286:SD II
1276:SC II
1251:E.654
1246:E.583
1241:E.581
1236:E.580
1231:E.561
1226:E.560
1221:E.555
1216:E.530
1211:E.500
1206:E.381
1201:E.377
1196:E.340
1116:Ar 96
1111:Ar 95
1106:Ar 81
1101:Ar 80
1096:Ar 79
1091:Ar 77
1086:Ar 76
1081:Ar 69
1076:Ar 68
1071:Ar 67
1066:Ar 66
1061:Ar 65
1056:Ar 64
1044:Arado
675:Notes
617:Guns:
546:Crew:
513:hatch
286:four-
268:glide
199:Gotha
191:Arado
76:Arado
44:Role
1281:SD I
1271:SC I
1261:L II
993:ISBN
972:ISBN
953:ISBN
934:ISBN
915:ISBN
896:ISBN
877:ISBN
854:ISBN
628:6 ×
584:1 ×
225:drag
111:The
1306:W 2
1301:V I
1266:S I
1256:L I
399:III
195:BMW
136:'s
1330::
789:^
761:^
734:^
720:^
702:^
370:II
205:,
201:,
197:,
193:,
169:.
1036:e
1029:t
1022:v
1007:.
980:.
961:.
942:.
923:.
904:.
885:.
862:.
548:1
341:I
115:(
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