Where did Germany test its fighter prototypes around 1930…

Where did Germany test its fighter prototypes around 1930, far from its own territory?

Short answer

At Lipetsk: Germany had a base there, in the Soviet Union, where two Arado Ar 64s were tested in 1931. Between July and August of that year, the first prototype of the fighter was used in simulated air combat against the Heinkel HD 38 and the Fokker D.XIII. That prototype had flown in the spring of 1930.

Published: November 2, 2026 · Updated: November 2, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Where did Germany test its fighter prototypes around 1930, far from its own territory?

Arado 64 San Diego Air & Space Museum

A fighter to succeed the Fokker D.XIII

The design designated Ar 64 derived from the earlier Arado SD II and SD III and was developed to meet the Reichswehrministerium (Reich Defense Ministry) requirement for a successor to the Fokker D.XIII fighter. The prototype made its first flight in the spring of 1930. It was one of the first fighters built when Germany abandoned the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles and began to rearm.

Lipetsk, a German base in the Soviet Union

In 1931, two Ar 64s moved on to testing at the German base of Lipetsk, in the Soviet Union: D-2470 (werk-nr 65) and D-2338 (werk-nr 66). Between July and August of that year, the first Ar 64 prototype was used in simulated air combat against the Heinkel HD 38 and the Fokker D.XIII.

A fighter that never entered service

The Ar 64 was the first Arado fighter design to progress beyond the prototype stage, although it never entered service, being outclassed by the Ar 65. The model that did enter service was precisely that Ar 65, powered by BMW. All the Ar 64s except two were fitted with the Gnome-Rhône Jupiter radial, built under license by Siemens.