A.R.1

From Wings of Linen
A.R.1
Role Reconnaissance
Manufacturer A.R.
Introduction March[1]-April[2][3] 1917
Primary user France
Number built 1435[1][note 1]
Variants A.R.2
Wingspan 13.3 m (43 ft 7 in) [4][5][6]
Engine 160hp Renault or
190hp Renault 8Gd or
240hp Lorraine 8A
Armament sync. fixed Vickers and
1-2× rear flexible Lewis
48 kg (106 lb)[6]-82 kg (180 lb)[4][5] in bombs
Crew 2
Max Speed 152 km/h (94 mph)[7][5]
Climb 2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 11:00[7]-13:00[4]
3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 22:20[7][4]
4,000 m (13,100 ft) in 39:00[7][4]
Ceiling 5,500 m (18,000 ft)[7][4][5]
Range 375 km (230 mi)[7]
Endurance 3:00 [4][5]

The A.R.1 is one of the great overlooked planes of WWI. 1,435 A.R.1 and A.R.2 aircraft were built, and they helped bridge the gap between the early Farman pushers and the better planes of 1918 which eventually replaced the AR's: Breguet 14s, Salmson S.2's, and SPAD 16s. At least 49 French escadrilles used the AR's. They were frequently known as "Dorand A.R.1s", but Commandant Dorand had little to do with their design. Various theories surround the name "A.R." but perhaps the most logical is Avion de Reconnaissance.

While it was not an elegant or outstanding aircraft, it gave good service in no less than 49 escadrilles, starting in early 1917. Frequently they were mixed with their larger, negative-stagger-wing cousin, the Letords. The A.R.1/A.R.2 also served with Greece, Serbia, and the U.S., though more commonly in a training role than in combat.[7]

By early 1918 they were starting to be withdrawn from combat, as better two-seaters started to arrive.[2]

For more information, see Wikipedia:Dorand AR.

Timeline [note 2] [note 3]

Game Data

Wings of Glory

Unofficial Stats
Maneuver Damage Dmg Points Max Alt. Climb
Y B/A 16 12 5

Plane and Crew Cards

Miniatures and Models

1:144 Scale

1:200 Scale

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

Resources

Isometric Top Views

References

Notes
  1. Includes both AR.1 and AR.2.
  2. Plane counts are approximate and based of escadrille usage in Davilla'97.
  3. Usage graph includes both AR.1 and AR.2
Citations
  1. 1.0 1.1 Davilla, p.37.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Lamberton, p.74.
  3. Angelucci, p.94.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Lamberton, pp.216-218.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Angelucci, p.85.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Ferry'14, p.129.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Davilla, p.46.
Bibliography
  • Enzo Angelucci, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. New York: The Military Press, 1983 edition. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
  • Dr. James J. Davilla and Arthur M. Soltan. French Aircraft of the First World War. Flying Machines Press, 1997. ISBN 0-9637110-4-0.
  • Vital Ferry. French Aviation During the First World War. Paris: Histoire and Collections, 2014. ISBN 978-2-35250-370-5
  • W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Reconnaissance & Bomber Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Ltd., 1962. ISBN 9780900435027