Ju 87 part 1

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Junkers Ju 87 “Stuka” (Sturzkampfflugzeug)
Junkers Ju 87 V1, featuring a twin-fin tail unit, flew in 1935 with a Rolls-Royce Kestrel V engine (V12 cylinder liquid cooled), followed in 1936 by the single-finned Ju 87V2 with a Jumo 210 engine. Within another year, the Ju 87A had entered production for the Luftwaffe, giving way in turn to the improved Ju 87B (1100 hp Junkers Jumo 211D engine) in 1938. The Ju 87 B series remained in quantity production for some two years, during which time large numbers were supplied to Germany’s allies as well as to the Luftwaffe. The designation Ju 87 C applied to a handful of Ju 87 B converted for the never finished carrier Graf Zeppelin. Meanwhile, the availability of the improved Junkers Jumo 211 J engine had led the Junkers designers to modify the Ju 87 with a view to utilising this engine.

The result appeared in 1940 in the form of the Ju 87D – still ugly, but much more refined aerodynamically, with cleaner cockpit and cowling lines. The Jut 87 D-3 and Ju 87 D-4, with various alternative underwing gun packs, marked the first specialised use of the type in the ground attack role. The Ju 87 G “Kanonenvogel” was an anti tank conversion of the long span D-5, with two 37 mm underwing cannon. Junkers Ju 87 H was a two seat trainer. Like other early Luftwaffe aircraft, the Ju 87 was compelled to serve long after it had become obsolete, because of the non-arrival of a successful replacement.
Total production: ~6500

Design and Structure

  • Wings: Low-wing cantilever design with a center-section integrated into the fuselage and set with an anhedral angle. The outer wing sections taper in both chord and thickness and have a dihedral angle. The structure is an all-metal two-spar design with closely-spaced ribs and a stressed-skin covering. The trailing edge features the Junkers “double-wing” design, where the outer portions serve as ailerons and the inner portions as landing flaps. Diving brakes are fitted beneath the front spars and are used during dive attacks.
  • Fuselage: Oval-section, made from light metal, with a smooth metal skin riveted to internal frames and stringers. The structure is joined along a horizontal center-line.
  • Tail Unit: Braced monoplane configuration with an all-metal structure. The tailplane and elevators use the Junkers “double-wing” design, with additional bracing to the fuselage.
  • Landing Gear: Fixed, divided type with oleo-pneumatic suspension and streamlined casings for the legs. The aircraft has an orientable tail-wheel.

Power Plant

  • Engine: Powered by a 1,300 hp Junkers Jumo 211 J twelve-cylinder inverted Vee liquid-cooled engine. The aircraft uses a three-bladed Junkers wooden airscrew.
  • Cooling: Equipped with two coolant radiators beneath the center-section and an oil cooler beneath the engine.
  • Fuel Capacity: Includes internal fuel tanks in the wings with a capacity of 170 Imperial gallons and provisions for two 66-gallon drop tanks.

Armament and Bomb Load

  • Guns: Two 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons mounted in the wings, with twin 7.9 mm MG 81 machine guns on a flexible mounting in the rear cockpit. For ground attack, additional weapon carriers can mount six MG 81 machine guns under each wing.
  • Bomb Load: Configurable to carry various bomb loads, including one 550 lb., 1,100 lb., 2,200 lb., or 3,960 lb. bomb under the fuselage, or combinations under the wings.

Dimensions and Weight

  • Dimensions: Span of 45 ft. 4 in. (13.8 m), length of 36 ft. 6 in. (11.13 m), height of 12 ft. 9 in. (3.9 m), and wing area of 335 sq. ft. (31 sq. m).
  • Weights: Normal flying weight of 12,600 lbs. (5,720 kg) and maximum permissible take-off weight of 14,500 lbs. (6,585 kg).

Performance

  • Speed: Maximum speed of 255 mph (408 km/h) at 13,500 ft. (4,120 m).
  • Climb and Ceiling: Climb to 15,000 ft. (4,575 m) takes 19 minutes; service ceiling at mean weight is 24,000 ft. (7,320 m).
  • Range: Maximum range with full fuel load is 1,200 miles (1,920 km), and with maximum bomb load (3,960 lbs. or 1,800 kg) is 620 miles (1,000 km).