Arado Ar E.

377 Luft '46 entry

Arado Ar E.377
This
Mistel
project was
one of the last
glide bomb
developments
submitted to
the RLM
before the
end of WWII.
Arado,
working with
Rheinmetall-
Borsig,
designed a
simple glide
bomb that
could be
powered or
unpowered,
and carried
beneath the
Arado 234 or Heinkel 162. The purpose of this flying bomb, which could be guided by remote control or a
target guidance system, was to attack targets such as ships or large fixed objectives.
Construction of the E.377 was wooden throughout the entire aircraft. The fuselage was circular in cross
section and was cigar-shaped. Mounted in the nose was 2000 kg (4408 lbs) of Trialen 105, a high-explosive
especially suitable for ship attacks. In addition 500 kg (1202 lbs) of an incinderary liquid was stored in the
rear fusleage which also acted as ballast to counterbalance the forward warhead. A standard SC 1800 bomb
could also be fitted in the forward fuselage of the E.377 in place of the other explosive. The wings were
tapered and shoulder mounted. They also served as auxiallary fuel tanks for the parent aircraft. Fuel was
drawn from the E.377's tanks by means of jet pressure which drove a compressor in the powerplant of the
parent aircraft.The tail unit was symmetrical on top and bottom with a horizontal tail mounted on the upper
half of the fin.
Take off was accomplished by means of a releasable trolley which was similar to one that Rheinmetall-
Borsig had designed for the Arado 234A. Since the Ar E.377 Mistel was heavier, an extra set
of wheels were added to the new trolley. Once the aircraft reached takeoff speed, the trolley was released
and slowed with a parachute and rockets. Assembly of this Mistel was carried out using a
special trestle and frame to add each aircraft on top of the trolley.
Upon
arrival at the
target, the
E.377 was
released by
means of
explosive bolts
and then was
terred to it's

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 Arado Ar E.377 Luft '46 entry

target by
means of a
control device.
This device
made
adjustments
in the control
and rudder
movements
from the
carrier aircraft after launch, or the E.377 could just be set to glide straight after seperation.
There was also a twin BMW 003 jet powered version to be used with the Heinkel 162, since the single jet
engine of the He 162 would not have been powerful enough to carry the E.377. This version was known as
the E.377a and was similar in all other aspects to the E.377. A piloted version was also planned, to be a
suicide weapon, but was cancelled before the end of the war. The E.377 was never constructed due to the
end of the war.

View Gino Marcomini's Ar E.377a Luft Art images

Arado Ar E.377 Data

Take Off
Weight
Span Length Wing Area Wing Loading without Trolley Fuel
12.2
10.9 m 27 m² 442 kg/m² 10000 kg 4500 kg
m
35' 9" 291 ft² 90 lbs/ft² 22040 lbs 9918 lbs
40' 1"
Arado Ar E.377 Models
Manufacturer Scale Material Notes
included in Mistel 5 kit
DML/Dragon 1/72 injected
E.377a version + launch trolley
E.377 & E.377a versions,
48 Special Models 1/48 resin different
warheads and launch trolley

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Arado Ar E.377 Luft '46 entry

The Rheinmetall-Borsig takeoff trolley used with the Arado Ar 234A.

This was to be strengthened for the Ar E.377 Mistel by adding an extra wheel on each side.

The Arado Ar 234A becoming airborne.

The Ar E.377 would have had a very
similar takeoff routine.

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Arado Ar E.377 Luft '46 entry

A side view of the

Ar 234C/Ar E.377
Mistel
combination.
Please click here
to see an original
three view
drawing.

A side view of the

He 162/Ar E.377a
Mistel
combination.
Please click here
to see an original
three view
drawing.

Above color art from Reichdreams Dossier #3

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Arado Ar E.377 Luft '46 entry

Above color art from Luftwaffe Secret Projects: Strategic Bombers 1933-1945

Above color art from DML/Dragon Mistel 5 model kit box art

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