I was not aware that the AR234 "C" became operational. Any more details about this?
There is extensive information in the Creek and Smith book (monogram) "Arado 234 Blitz" including some 40 photographs of the Ar 234C Or "Caesar". Even the artwork on the cover is of a 234C.
The V19 was the first true prototype though there were experiments with 4 engine versions before then. A total of 4 production variants were delivered to Rechlin, the Luftwaffe test centre where they were flown. One was even shot down by a Mustang as its civilian test pilot practised slow flying.
Speed was about 548mph at 13000ft. The aircraft was Mach limited not thrust limited. One of the more interesting variants had a AWACS style rotadome/radom for a PPI display. Germans had settled on arrays of dielelectric rod aerials which produced this kind of lenticular antenna that was streamlined and suitable for U-boats, even aircraft and some ships.
Obviously the Ar 234B with a speed of only 465 mph was vulnerable to interception by up coming allied jets and even the faster piston fighters when carrying bombs, the Ar 234C was the answer to this dilemma, its relatively high excess thrust allowing it to carry external bombs without significant impact on speed.
Arado 234A = initial reconnaissance aircraft with 880kP thrust Jumo
004B engines a skid landing gear: speed about 486mph.
Arado 234B = main production version with same engines but with
retractable undercarriage and semi recessed bomb bay, the fuselage was
widened 1.5 inches in order to maintain range. Speed dropped to 466
mph.
Arado 234C3 = Had 4 x BMW 003A-2 engines with 800kP thrust each and a
pressurized cockpit as well as a pair of forward firing 20mm guns.
About 4 actually entered troop testing. Speed was Mach limited to
between 528mph to 534mph by the onset of tail flutter at high altitude. There was also
a proposed armored high altitude fighter variant of this able to
intercept to 39,500ft and an improvised night fighter variant.
Feb 1945 order status; 1795 C3's
Arado 234C4 = recon of the above
Feb 1945 order status 330 C4's
Arado 234C5 = two seat cockpit for a navigator, bomb aimer, radio
opperator.
Feb 1945 order status 1395 C5's
Arado 235C6 = reserved designation, probable two seat recon.
Arado 234C7 = two seat night fighter, microwave radar FuG 244 or FuG
245 or FuG 218/FuG 219 strapped to the nose.
Feb 1945 order status 295 C7's
Arado 234C8 = C3 with two improved Jumo 004 engines.
Arado 234P. Two seat night fighter version to come with a variety of
engine combos, cockpits under construction.
Arado 234 "Crescent Wing" a swept wing version with sweep and wing
thickness both progressively reducing at the tips to achieve constant
mach and good handling. The tail was also swept. Arado prototype Ar
234 V16 was to be mated to the new tail and wing which was being
fabricated until destroyed by allied troops in Feb 1945. The
prototypes V18, V26 and V30 were all allocated to this program.
Range reduced to around 650 miles with 3000lbs bombs but without drop tanks, for which 3
attachments were provided, though with much better takeoff, load,
climb, acceleration and speed. The aircraft was Mach limited rather
than thrust limited. Planed versions with the HeS 011 suffered no reduction
in range, in fact flew a little further.
However as the thrust of available engines grew a single pair of
engines could be used..
Basically these were the engines available
Jumo 004B-1 early production engine of 880kP thrust.
Jumo 004B-4 later, main production engine of 880kP thrust with hollow
air cooled turbine blades for greater reliabillity.
Jumo 004C used for some flight tests only 1025kP thrust.
Jumo 004D Just entering production as the war closed of 1050kP
thrust. Me 262 with this engine did 568mph in level flight.'
(some doubt in my mind about the status of the above but the 'accelerator control valve is well documented'
HeS 011A slated for 1300kP thrust but benching only 1158KP thrust in
Feb 1945 running behind schedule, probably 3-6 months to full
production.
HeS 011B slated for 1500kP
HeS 011C slated for 1700kP
BMW 003A-2 800kg thrust used on Arado 234C
BMW 003E-2 800kg thrust used on Heinkel He 162 same as above with different
accessories gearbox for dorsal mounting. The 003E2 actually had a 30 second 900kg overload capability which gave the He 162 a 562mph burst of speed.
Might have been useful for take-off. Despite having a lower thrust than the 004 the 003 actually had a higher cruise thrust.
BMW 003C 900kP thrust using standard BMW 003A/E hot section but with a
new compressor for more thrust and efficiency for long range versions
of the Arado 234B/D
BMW 003D 1100kP thrust with new hot section and further improvied
compressor.
Jumo 004H based on a scaled down Jumo 012 to slightly larger Jumo 004 dimensions.
with 8 instead of 6 combustion chamber cans, prototypes being made. Incorporated blow of valves, 1900kg thrust.
BMW P.3007 about 1700kg thrust, scaled up BMW003 backup for HeS 011.
Received development go ahead.