The Arado Ar 234 B-2 was a development of the Ar 234 A reconnaissance plane, which had first seen action over the beaches of Normandy in early August 1944. Unlike the Ar 234 A, the Ar 234 B-2 was built as a bomber aircraft and was fitted with conventional tricycle landing gear. In addition to flying as a bomber, the plane could be fitted with a pair of cameras for reconnaissance work. In this latter case, the plane was known as the Ar 234 B-1.
The Ar 234 B-2 was powered by a pair of Junkers Jumo 004 turbojets, which were also fitted to the Messerschmitt Me 262. Owing to the slow acceleration of these engines, a pair of Walter HWK 109-500 rocket pods were fitted under the wings to shorten the plane’s takeoff run. These rocket pods were jettisoned after takeoff and were fitted with parachutes to enable them to be reused. After landing, a drag chute fitted in the tail could be deployed to shorten the time needed to come to a full stop.
Owing to the plane’s slender fuselage design, the Ar 234 B-2 could carry a maximum of three bombs, all externally — one bomb could be hung underneath the fuselage and one could be carried underneath each engine nacelle. In active combat operations, the typical bomb load consisted of one 500- or 1000-kilogram bomb suspended beneath the fuselage. A Lotfe 7K bombsight was fitted to early-production planes, but eventually, it was decided to forgo level bombing and instead operate the plane as a dive bomber. As a result, the plane was fitted with a periscope that enabled the pilot to see the calculated impact point of his bombs. Besides flying as a bomber and reconnaissance plane, a small number of Ar 234 B-2s were equipped with a gun pod that was fitted with a pair of 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons.
Small numbers of the Ar 234 B began seeing service as B-1 reconnaissance planes in September 1944. In December 1944, an operational detachment from Kampfgeschwader 76 became the first unit to fly jet bombers in combat operations. The Ar 234 B-2 would continue flying operationally until the end of the war in Europe in May 1945. Altogether, some 210 Ar 234 B-series planes were built, with around 100 of these seeing combat usage.
In addition to Quick Mission Builder, Advanced Quick Mission Generator and Multiplayer modes, you can fly it in Career mode during Battle of Normandy and Battle of Bodenplatte timeframes.
- Default armament: 249 kg general purpose bombs "SC 250" and 500 kg general purpose bombs "SC 500".
- Length: 12.6 m
- Wingspan: 14.4 m
- Wing surface: 26.4 m²
Armaments and Modifications
- 1090 kg general purpose bomb "SC 1000" (31 kph speed loss).
- Lotfe 7K bombsight for horizontal bombing (33 kg weight increase, 3 km/h speed loss).
- Two 20mm guns "MG 151/20", 200 rounds, 700 rounds per minute, in underbelly-mounted gunpod (245 kg weight increase with ammo, 22 km/h speed loss).
- Two jettisonable Starthilfe (take-off assist) Walter HWK 109-500 units for shortening the take-off run (1000 kgf additional thrust for 35 seconds).
- Drogue Chute - braking parachute for reducing the landing run distance (32 kg weight increase, 2 km/h speed loss).
- Photo equipment for reconnaissance missions (204 kg weight increase, 9 km/h speed loss with opened photo bay doors and 1 km/h with closed photo bay doors).
- Retractable mirrors on cockpit sides to provide visual control of engines (1 kg weight increase, 5 km/h speed loss).
Skins
- Standard paint scheme (customizable tactical number).
- Standard pattern with winter camo (customizable tactical number).
- Alternative camo (RLM 70/71 up, RLM 65 bottom, black rear parts of the engine nacelles and customizable tactical number).
- Winter paint applied on top of the alternative camo (RLM 70/71 up, RLM 65 bottom, black rear parts of the engine nacelles and customizable tactical number).
- 8.KG 76 and Einsatzstaffel/KG 76, MĂĽnster-Handorf, Germany, November 1944.
- Ofw. Friedrich Bruchlos, 8.KG 76, MĂĽnster-Handorf, Germany, late 1944 - early 1945. This aircraft was shot down over Remagen on March 9th, 1945.
- Hptm. Josef Regler, 9.KG 76 Commander, Achmer, Germany, late 1944 - early 1945. This aircraft was shot down on February 22nd, 1945.
- Major Hans-Georg Bätcher, Stab III./KG 76 Commander, Burg, Germany, February 1945.
- Lt. Alfred Frank, 9.KG 76, Stavanger-Sola, Norway, May 1945.
- Kommando Sperling, Rheine, Germany, April 1945.
- Oblt Erich Sommer, Kommando Hecht, Biblis, Germany, December 1944.
Technical details
Indicated stall speed in flight configuration: 177..248 km/hIndicated stall speed in takeoff/landing configuration: 159..223 km/h
Dive true air speed limit: 850 km/h
Maximum load factor: 6 G
Stall angle of attack in flight configuration: 13.9°
Stall angle of attack in landing configuration: 10.8°
Maximum true air speed at sea level, engine mode - Nominal, 8400 RPM: 628 km/h
Maximum true air speed at 6000 m, engine mode - Nominal, 8400 RPM: 658 km/h
Maximum true air speed at 9000 m, engine mode - Nominal, 8400 RPM: 630 km/h
Maximum true air speed at sea level, engine mode - Maximal, 8700 RPM: 703 km/h
Maximum true air speed at 6000 m, engine mode - Maximal, 8700 RPM: 728 km/h
Maximum true air speed at 9000 m, engine mode - Maximal, 8700 RPM: 702 km/h
Service ceiling: 10500 m
Climb rate at sea level: 14.3 m/s
Climb rate at 6000 m: 6.3 m/s
Climb rate at 9000 m: 3.0 m/s
Maximum performance turn at sea level: 27 s, at 400 km/h IAS.
Maximum performance turn at 6000 m: 52 s, at 380 km/h IAS.
Flight endurance at 6000 m: 4 h 15 m, at 400 km/h IAS.
Takeoff speed: 178..262 km/h
Glideslope speed: 270 km/h
Landing speed: 155..210 km/h
Landing angle: 4.0°
Note 1: the data provided is for international standard atmosphere (ISA).
Note 2: flight performance ranges are given for possible aircraft mass ranges.
Note 3: maximum speeds, climb rates and turn times are given for aircraft target mass.
Note 4: climb rates and turn times are given for Maximal (8700 RPM) power.
Engine: 2 x turbo jet
Model: Jumo-004 B1
Maximum power in Maximal mode (8700 RPM) at sea level: 810 kg(f)
Maximum power in Maximal mode (8700 RPM) at 6000 m: 530 kg(f)
Maximum power in Maximal mode (8700 RPM) at 9000 m: 385 kg(f)
Engine modes:
Nominal (unlimited time): 8400 RPM
Maximal (15 minutes): 8700 RPM
Nominal exhaust temperature: 600 °C
Maximum exhaust temperature: 650 °C
Exhaust pressure: 0.2-0.38 kg/cm²
Fuel injection pressure: 40-80 kg/cm²
Oil rated pressure in engine output: 2 kg/cm²
Oil maximum pressure in engine output: 5 kg/cm²
Empty weight: 5029 kg
Minimum weight (no ammo, 10% fuel): 5329 kg
Weight with full tanks (no ammo): 8210 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 10470 kg
Target weight (1 x SC 500, 45% fuel): 6950 kg
Fuel load: 3181 kg / 3790 l
Useful load: 5441 kg
Combat debut: 24 December 1944
Operation features
- The aircraft is equipped with two turbojet engines Jumo-004 B1. They are controlled automatically by the throttle which sets the turbine rotor RPM.
- The engine is equipped with automatic fuel regulator that engaged only at more than 6000 RPM. Therefore, the fuel regulation at lower RPM wasn\'t effective and a careless throttle increase could cause excessive fuel intake, resulting in overheating and possible engine fire.
- At high altitudes it is possible to lean the mixture too much by a sharp throttle decrease, causing a flameout and engine stop. The turbine shouldn\'t be set below 6000-8000 RPM depending on the altitude.
- It is impossible to restart the engine at high altitudes (more than 4000 m).
- The aircraft is equipped with horizontal stabilizer and rudder trim to reduce the load on controls.
- The aircraft is susceptible to Mach tuck when diving at 0.8 M or higher speed.
- Landing flaps and hovering ailerons have a hydraulic actuator. Thay can be extended in take-off position (flaps angle 25°) and landing position (flaps angle 45°).
- Landing gear brakes are hydraulic as well and are engaged by pushing a corresponding pedal. The nose gear orients by itself.
- There are two fuel tanks (1800 l and 1990 l) which have fuel level indicators and emergency fuel lamps (they light up when there are less than 250 l left).
- The aircraft is equipped with three-channel autopilot system (main switch RAlt + A, each channel could be activated independently by RAlt + Y/P/R). Pilot has the ability to trim course (RAlt + Left/Right) and pitch (RAlt + Up/Down) stabilizing angles.
- The aircraft has dive bombsight BZA 1 B by default (LShift + V). Pilot should set target height above sea level (RShift + Period/Semicolon) and wind speed (RAlt + Period/Semicolon) before initiating the dive. Head of dive bombsight periscope could change its orientation to provide rear-view to the pilot (RAlt + F). Reticle lights could be switched off (LAlt + M). Also bombsight Lotfe 7K for horizontal bombing could be installed as modification.
- The aircraft has a significant takeoff run (especially with a maximum takeoff weight). To provide shorter takeoff run parachuted jet boosters could be installed as modification. Nominal operating time of jet boosters is 35 s (press R to activate). After successfull takeoff jet boosters should be jettisoned (LShift + D).
- To provide shorter landing run drogue chute could be installed as modification. Maximum speed of drogue chute release (LAlt + D) is 215 km/h. After successfull landing and braking drogue chute should be jettisoned (LAlt + D).
- To be able to fly reconnaissance missions aircraft could be equipped with photo equipment. Photo bay doors must be opened before taking shots (control is the same as the bomb doors).
