Arado Ar.65 - Training and wartime users

With this post we finish with the Arado Ar.65.

As we previously wrote, the Arado Ar.65 was a German biplane fighter of the 1930s that was intended as the successor of the Ar.64. It appeared in 1931 and various prototypes and versions were made:

• Ar.65a: The prototype that was built in 1931. It was powered by a 750hp BMW VI 7.3 12-cylinder water-cooled engine. It was also armed with two 7,92mm MG17 machine guns that armed all the variants. As we couldn't find graphical evidence, it's left undrawn.
• Ar.65b: The second prototype that was identical to the first. It only differed from the first in some minor structural and equipment changes. Undrawn due to the lack of sources.
• Ar.65c: The third prototype. Was identical to the previous two ones. Just some minor structural and equipment alterations were made. Not drawn because the sources are scarce.
• Ar.65d: Initial production model. First built in 1933. It featured a vertical fuselage magazine to carry six 10kg bombs. 
• Ar.65E: Another production version. Probably the most manufactured one. The bomb magazine was removed, probably because it slowed down the performance of the aircraft.
• Ar.65F: Final production model with some minor improvements from the E version.

As it was retired from the active service in 1935, it was relegated to the training role in Czechia, where it served in the flying schools of Olomouc, Prostějov and Plzeň. Later, in 1942 and 1943 a not documented variant which featured two extra fuel tanks under upper wings and glider towing equipment, served with the Erganzungs-Schleppgruppen 1 and 2 towing the DFS 230 gliders carrying troops from the Kuban bridgehead in Russia.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arado_Ar_65
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuban_bridgehead
4. http://histaviation.com/ar_65.html