Arado Ar E.530

Nazi Germany (1940)

The proposed Arado E.530 lost out to the Messerschmitt Bf 109Z series of similar form and function - though neither design was adopted for service.

Detailing the development and operational history of the Arado Ar E.530 High-Speed Bomber Proposal. Entry last updated on 11/9/2017. Authored by Staff Writer. Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com

The idea of twin fuselage aircraft was always on the minds of aeronautical engineers throughout World War 2 (1939-1945). The basic concept combined the benefits of two airframes - meaning power output and fuel stores - to make for a larger complete unit with good endurance and inherent mission versatility. The North American F-82 "Twin-Mustang" was the only true fighter success involving this concept during the war, mating a pair of P-51 Mustang airframes to make for an excellent long range night-fighter. Another attempt, this one by Germany, became the Arado E.530 project. Such a pairing of aircraft in German nomenclature was generically referred to as "Zwilling" meaning "Twin".

The E.530 was similar in scope to the Messerschmitt Bf 109Z which mated two Bf 109 airframes in a single design along a central main and tail plane. The Bf 109Z was intended as a heavy fighter from the outset and developed to a 1942 requirement. The E.530 extended the Bf 109 fuselages and added a revised wing mainplane and undercarriage. The undercarriage constituted two main legs with double wheels and two tailwheels. The two fuselages were joined by a central wing structure and an aft elevator horizontal surface.

Envisioned as a single-seat, fast bomber, the E.530 was to be powered by a pair of Daimler-Benz DB 603 G series inline piston engines, each driving three-bladed propellers. Only one cockpit was used, this being located in the portside fuselage while the starboard side fuselage cockpit area was faired over. The cockpit was fully pressurized for high altitude work. The design did not proceed to the point where fixed offensive/defensive armament was finalized. There would have been provision for a single 1,100 pound bomb carried under the central main wing unit joining the two fuselages together. Perhaps the aircraft's speed and operating altitude would have remained its best defense.

The E.530 already failed in one regard - it was logistically unfriendly when compared to the Bf 109Z. The Bf 109 was the German frontline fighter and spares are readily available whereas the E.530 would have required all new tooling and techniques to bring the aircraft together in the numbers required. This became a major sticking point with the project and a major reason why the E.530 was passed on in favor of a competing design.

The Bf 109Z project itself was abandoned as soon as 1944 with only one prototype having been completed. This example was not flown and was damaged while in its hangar during a bombing raid in 1943.

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Relative Maximum Speed Rating

Hi: 500mph

Lo: 250mph

This entry's maximum listed speed (478mph).

Graph average of 375 miles-per-hour.

Aviation Era Impact

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Unit Production Comparison

Comm. Market HI*: 44,000 units

Military Market HI**: 36,183 units

* Commercial Market High belongs to Cessna 172.

** Military Market High belongs to Ilyushin Il-2.

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Supported Mission Types:

Air-to-Air

Interception

Unmanned

Ground Attack

Close-Air Support

Training

Anti-Submarine

Anti-Ship

Airborne Early Warning

MEDEVAC

Electronic Warfare

Maritime/Navy

Aerial Tanker

Utility/Transport

Passenger Industry

VIP Travel

Business Travel

Search/Rescue

Recon/Scouting

Special Forces

X-Plane/Development

National Origin: Nazi Germany

Service Year: 1940

Classification Type: High-Speed Bomber Proposal

Manufacturer(s): Arado Flugzeugwerke - Germany

Production Units: 0

Operational Status: Cancelled

Global Operators:
Nazi Germany

Structural - Crew, Dimensions, and Weights:
Unless otherwise noted the presented statistics below pertain to the Arado Ar E.530 model. Common measurements, and their respective conversions, are shown when possible.

Operational
CREW

Personnel
1

Dimension
LENGTH

Feet
46.42 ft

Meters
14.15 m

Dimension
WIDTH

Feet
53.31 ft

Meters
16.25 m

Installed Power - Standard Day Performance:
2 x Daimler-Benz DB 603 G 12-cylinder engines developing 1,800 horsepower each.

Performance
SPEED

Miles-per-Hour
478 mph

Kilometers-per-Hour
770 kph