Arado Ar 234 "Blitz" (German: lightning) - a German twin-engine reconnaissance bomber with a turbojet engine. One of the most promising aircraft designs of the end of World War II. At the beginning of the war, the Luftwaffe did not give priority to the creation of jet aircraft, this changed in 1941, when Erhard Milch became its inspector general. The first prototypes in the reconnaissance version (Ar 234 V-1) took to the air in the summer of 1943, and in the bomber version (Ar 234 V-9) - in March 1944. Mass production began that same year, and by the end of the war 238 units had been produced. The production versions were powered by the Jumo 004 B-1 engine. Several versions of the aircraft were produced, including the B-2/N version, which was equipped with radar and was used to locate and intercept Allied bombers during night raids. The Ar-234 was one of the most technologically advanced aircraft in the Luftwaffe at the end of the war. Of particular note are the Jumo 004 B-1 engines and the excellent RF2C periscope sights. Due to its fantastic performance and considerable maneuverability, the AR 234 was extremely difficult to shoot down for all Allied aircraft. After 1945, the captured single examples were subjected to intensive testing by all the victorious powers. At the same time, the Ar 234 "surpassed" the Luftwaffe command, which could not completely devalue its value and combat advantages. Technical data: Maximum speed: 740 km/h; rate of climb: 12.7 m/s, maximum ceiling 10,000 m, maximum flight range: 800 km, armament: stationary - 2 MG151/20 cannons of 20 mm caliber, overhead - up to 1,400 kg of bombs.
