A.R.1

The A.R.1 is one of the great overlooked planes of WWI. 1,435 A.R.1 and A.R.2 aircraft were built, and they helped bridge the gap between the early Farman pushers and the better planes of 1918 which eventually replaced the AR's: Breguet 14s, Salmson S.2's, and SPAD 16s. At least 49 French escadrilles used the AR's. They were frequently known as "Dorand A.R.1s", but Commandant Dorand had little to do with their design. Various theories surround the name "A.R." but perhaps the most logical is Avion de Reconnaissance.

While it was not an elegant or outstanding aircraft, it gave good service in no less than 49 escadrilles, starting in early 1917. Frequently they were mixed with their larger, negative-stagger-wing cousin, the Letords. The A.R.1/A.R.2 also served with Greece, Serbia, and the U.S., though more commonly in a training role than in combat.

By early 1918 they were starting to be withdrawn from combat, as better two-seaters started to arrive.

1:144 Scale

 * Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

 * Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory