Various trainee-friendly features were present, including aerodynamically balanced flight control surfaces, widely-set landing gear, and automatically deploying flaps.

By the end of 1940, the Ar 96 was becoming a common sight at many Germany pilot training schools, where they were often regarded as being relatively rugged, easy to fly and maintain, and technologically up-to-date aircraft.

Arado continued to develop the type throughout the war, proposing various models as well as enacting various manufacturing changes to minimise production time as well as the use of strategic materials.

[1] Modifications proved to be necessary; a continuous spar design replaced the tubular steel bridge arrangement initially used to link the wings, fuselage, and landing gear, while the horn counterbalance on the rudder was also eliminated.

The outward-retracting landing gear was replaced by wider-tracked design to fulfil training safety requirements, while automatic slats were also added along with increased canopy glazing.

[1] During 1937, testing of the first batch of prototypes proceeded positively; that same year, Ernst Udet, Chief of the Technical Office, T-Amt, (the development wing of the Reich Ministry of Aviation), flew one of the early Ar 96s.

[2] One approach, aimed at reducing individual part count and shortening production time, involved the use of a hydraulic extrusion press and an electric roll welding process on the tailplane subassembly manufacture.

[3] By 1943, Germany's declining military situation and intense demands for key materials motivated Arado started development of a new derivative of the Ar 96 that made greater use of lower grade non-strategic metals and wood.

[4] However, development were deliberately constrained by the French,[5] while the launch of the Allied invasion of France during the following year forced the Germans to shift production of the Ar 396 to Czechoslovakia instead.

[6][7] Accordingly, this work was undertaken by both Letov and the Avia factory in occupied Czechoslovakia, while considerations for another final assembly site in neighbouring Hungary was also considered.

[citation needed] Data from Aircraft of the Third Reich Vol.1 [15]General characteristics Performance Armament 1 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 17 machine gun