Arado Flugzeugwerke
Arado L I
The Arado L I was a light sport monoplane built by the German manufacturer Arado Flugzeugwerke in the late 1920s. Designed by Walter Rethel, the aircraft first flew in 1929 as a response to the growing demand for affordable civilian aircraft after World I. Its wooden airframe, covered with fabric, employed a high‑wing cantilever layout that gave pilots excellent visibility and stable handling characteristics. Powered by a modest 40 hp Siemens‑Halske Sh 14 radial engine, the L I could reach a maximum speed of 150 km/h and a service ceiling of 3 500 m, making it suitable for pilot training, short‑range touring, and aerobatic displays. Only a handful of units were produced, primarily for German flying clubs and a few export customers in Scandinavia. Although the type did not achieve commercial success, it represented an important step in Arado’s transition from licensed production of foreign designs to the development of indigenous aircraft. The experience gained from the L I’s simple construction and economical operation informed later, more advanced Arado models such as the Ar 64 fighter and the Ar 68 trainer, cementing the firm’s reputation in interwar aviation. Today, the few surviving examples are prized by collectors and illustrate the innovative spirit of early German civil aviation.