The excellent Ar-96 trainer served the Luftwaffe through most of the war. A new trainer was sought by 1944 and the Ar-96 became the 196 with the further advanced 296 turning into the non-strategic wooden 396. The Ar-396 was just as good if not better, handled well, and had a more powerful 592 hp inverted V-12 Argus Ar-411MA engine. It had a top speed of 220 mph, range of 373 miles, and could reach 22,000 ft altitude. It was produced from Dec 29, 1944 until early 1945. This was the last LW trainer in inventory, the Skoda-Kauba SK-257 advanced single-seat trainer not making it into production. Some Ar-396s were armed with a single MG-17 as a desperate measure in case it got intercepted, but most of the old MG-17s were stockpiled and not fitted. A forgotten little bird, the Ar-396 survived WW2 and being manufactured in France became the SIPA S.10/11/111 of wood and S.12/121 of metal. It lasted a long time with the 111s and 121s fighting in Algeria with the French AF armed with MGs, rockets, and bombs!!! The French preferred it to their captured and manufactured Me Bf 108 Taifuns!!! A total of 188 SIPA aircraft were manufactured postwar!

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/attachments/aircraft-pictures/167701d1305791967t-frustated-projects-arado-ar-396.jpg Skoda-Kauba SK-257: http://histaviation.com/SK_V4_side_view_416x203.jpg http://histaviation.com/SK_V4_D-EZWA_370x204.jpg SIPA S.11/12: http://a21.idata.over-blog.com/600x426/1/95/08/26/Sipa-11-12-121-122/SIPA_111A_2_.jpg