A journey through a revolutionary era in aviation history.


Junkers Ju 287

Manufacturer: Junkers
Country of Origin: Germany
Role: Experimental four-seat heavy jet bomber

The Ju 287


Engine: V1: Four 900 kg (1,984 lb) Junkers Jumo 004B turbojets
V2 & V3: Six 800 kg (1,764 lb) BMW 003 turbojets
Production Examples: Four 1,300 kg (2,886 lb) HeS 011A turbojets
Wing Span: 20.10 m (65 ft 11.75 in)
Length: 18.60 m (60 ft)
Weight: Empty 10,230 kg (22,553 lb)
Loaded 20,000 kg (44,092 lb)
Maximum Speed: 560 km/h (348 mph)
Ceiling: 10,800 m (35,400 ft)
Range: 1,500 km (932 miles)
Accommodation: 1 Pilot, 3 Crew
Armament: V1: Two MG 131 13 mm machine guns and 4,000 kg (8,808 lb) bombs

History:
The Ju 287 project started in June 1943. The aircraft was to have had swept-back wings and four turbojets, one beneath each wing and one on either side of the forward fuselage. However, the low speed stability problems of swept wings had at that time not been solved, so in order to retain the high-speed capabilities of sweep, while at the same time avoiding low-speed stalls, the designers compromised by giving the wings 25 degrees of forward sweep. The wings were attached to the fuselage at about it's midpoint, giving the aircraft the appearance of having an exaggeratedly long nose.

The testbed aircraft flew on 16 August 1944. It was constructed from various different types of other aircraft. Included were the nose wheels from two B-24 Liberators, the fuselage of an He 177, mainwheels of a Ju 352 and the tail was constructed of Ju 388 parts.

17 test flights proved the concept to have excellent handling characteristics but with some signs of wing twisting. The V2 had six engines placed in a certain way in order to counter the wing twisting effect. The Ju 287 would undoubtedly have proved a problem had the Allies not overrun the testing airfield, capturing the V1 and the nearly completed V2. The V3 failed to get off the drawing board and would have featured further improvements.

The Ju 287 V1 with RATO packs installed under the engines

The Ju 287 V1 Testbed, preparing for airflow tests

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