
                           ARADO AR-234 B-2 Blitz

       The world's first operational jet bomber, the AR-234 Blitz
       (Lightning) was another case of too little, too late for the 
       Germans. Designed by Walter Blume, the AR-234 project was
       started in 1941, and did not make its maiden flight until 
       June 15, 1943, due to delays in the design of the new Junkers
       Jumo 004 Turbojets. It was initially planned as a recon-
       naissance aircraft, and in order to meet the range 
       requirements set for it, was designed without landing gear 
       to accomodate the extra fuel needed. The prototype (V1) took 
       off from a three-wheeled trolley and landed on a skid, much 
       like the Messerschmitt Me-163. Eight other prototypes were
       completed, the last one with retractable landing gear. This
       was the standard for the first production models, the B-series.
         The AR-234 B-1 was the first variant to see service. It was 
       used as a photo-reconnaissance plane, and included a pressurized
       cockpit and ejection seat, one of the first combat aircraft to
       do so. Armament was defensive only, with a pair of 20mm MG 151
       cannons firing aft of the airplane.
         The AR-234 B-2 followed, and was put into operation as a 
       tactical bomber. The B-2 saw limited action in Belgium during 
       the Battle of the Bulge in Winter of 1944. It carried the 
       same armament as the B-1, plus a payload of up to 3300 lbs.
       of bombs. 
         In all, just over 200 AR-234s were completed before the
       end of the war. Its simple shoulder mounted wing and uncluttered
       fuselage profile made the Blitz a very quick and sturdy aircraft,
       and would certainly have made more of an impact on the war
       had it been introduced earlier.

       
       HOW TO USE THIS PLANE
       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       1. Use the DOS COPY command to make a backup of the Bf-109G-6.
          In the SWOTL\AC subdirectory, type:
             COPY BF109G6.SPC BF109G6.ORI

       2. Then COPY AR234B.EXP BF109G6.SPC

          If you have SWOTL Manager, disregard steps 1 & 2, and just 
          COPY or MOVE the AR234B.EXP and AR234B.TXT files into the 
          SWOTL\HANGAR subdirectory.
       
       3. COPY or MOVE the AR234.INT and AR234GUN.INT files into the
          SWOTL\CP subdirectory. These files do not need to be copied 
          over another.

          ***NOTE*** This plane uses the Do-335 AND He-162 cockpit
            graphics. If you do not have the Do-335 and He-162 add on
            disks, copy the enclosed ALTERN8.INT file over AR234.INT

       4. To use the rear-firing guns, press the 'G' key anytime 
          during flight.

                                                 Jon Saloga
                                                 PRODIGY ID- WNNB53A
