Junkers Ju 287
One of the strangest Luftwaffe aircraft to ever claw it's way into the air was the Junkers Ju 287. Begun in early 1943,
the Ju 287 incorporated many advanced aerodynamic concepts, the most striking being the swept forward wings.
This design feature was deemed radical enough to warrent the construction of a testbed aircraft, pictured above. This testbed
flew on August 16, 1944. The aircraft was a Frankenstien's monster, pieced together from several diffent aircraft.
Included were the nosewheels from two B-24 Liberators, the fuselage of an He 177, mainwheels off a Ju 352, and the tail
was constructed of Ju 388 parts.
17 test flights proved the concept to have excellent handling characteristics and would have proven a problem had not the allies
overrun the testing airfield, capturing the the V1 and the nearly complete V2. The V2 was flown by the Soviet Union in 1947. The V3
failed to get off the drawing board and would have had several improvements.
This is the Ju 287 V1 Testbed, preparing for airflow tests.
Type: Heavy Bomber
Origin: Junkers Flugzeug und Motorenwerks AG
Model: V1 to V3
Crew: V3: Three
First Flight:
Ju 287 V1: August 16, 1944
Ju 287 V2: 1947 by Soviet Union
Number of Flights: V1: 17
Number Produced: 2, (V3) not completed
Powerplant:
Ju 287 V1 & V2:
Model: Junkers Jumo 004
Type: Turbojets
Number: Four Thrust: 1,980lb (900kg)
Note: Four 2,645lb (1,200kg) thrust Walter 501 takeoff
assistance rockets also mounted.
Ju 287 V3:
Model: BMW 003A
Type: Turbojets
Number: Six Thrust: 1,760lb (800kg)
Origin: Junkers Flugzeug und Motorenwerks AG
Model: V1 to V3
Crew: V3: Three
First Flight:
Ju 287 V1: August 16, 1944
Ju 287 V2: 1947 by Soviet Union
Number of Flights: V1: 17
Number Produced: 2, (V3) not completed
Powerplant:
Ju 287 V1 & V2:
Model: Junkers Jumo 004
Type: Turbojets
Number: Four Thrust: 1,980lb (900kg)
Note: Four 2,645lb (1,200kg) thrust Walter 501 takeoff
assistance rockets also mounted.
Ju 287 V3:
Model: BMW 003A
Type: Turbojets
Number: Six Thrust: 1,760lb (800kg)
Dimensions:
Span: 65 ft. 11¾ in. (20.11m)
Length:
Ju 287 V1: 60 ft. 0½ in. (18.30m)
Height: N/A
Wing Area: N/A Weights:
Empty: 12,510kg
Loaded: 20,000kg Performance:
Maximum speed:
Ju 287 V1: 560kph (348mph)
Ju 287 V3: 865kn/h (537mph)
Range with max. bombs (est.):
Ju 287 V3: 1585km (985 miles)
Armament:
Two MG 131 in remote control tail barbette.
Bombs: Ju 287 V3
8,818 lb. (4000 kg)
Span: 65 ft. 11¾ in. (20.11m)
Length:
Ju 287 V1: 60 ft. 0½ in. (18.30m)
Height: N/A
Wing Area: N/A Weights:
Empty: 12,510kg
Loaded: 20,000kg Performance:
Maximum speed:
Ju 287 V1: 560kph (348mph)
Ju 287 V3: 865kn/h (537mph)
Range with max. bombs (est.):
Ju 287 V3: 1585km (985 miles)
Armament:
Two MG 131 in remote control tail barbette.
Bombs: Ju 287 V3
8,818 lb. (4000 kg)
Sources:
Gunston, Bill & Wood, Tony - Hitler's Luftwaffe
, 1977, Salamander Books Ltd., London
Green, William - Warplanes of the Third Reich
. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1970.
Gunston, Bill & Wood, Tony - Hitler's Luftwaffe
, 1977, Salamander Books Ltd., LondonGreen, William - Warplanes of the Third Reich
. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1970.
