https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers_Ju_87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka (from Sturzkampfflugzeug, "dive bomber") was a German
dive bomber and ground-attack aircraft designed by Hermann Pohlmann and first
flew in 1935. The Ju 87 made its combat debut in 1937 with the Luftwaffe's
Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War. It served the Axis forces in World
War II.
The aircraft was easily recognisable by its inverted gull wings and fixed
spatted undercarriage. Upon the leading edges of its faired main gear legs were
mounted the Jericho-Trompete ("Jericho trumpet") wailing sirens, becoming the
The Stuka's design included several innovative features, including automatic
pull-up dive brakes under both wings to ensure that the aircraft recovered from
its attack dive even if the pilot blacked out from the high g-forces.
Once the Luftwaffe lost air superiority, on all fronts, the Ju 87 again became
an easy target for enemy fighter aircraft. Despite these developments, because
there was no better replacement, the type continued to be produced until 1944.
By the end of the conflict, the Stuka had been largely replaced by ground-attack
versions of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, but was still in use until the last days of
the war. An estimated 6,500 Ju 87s of all versions were built between 1936 and
August 1944.
Role Dive bomber
Manufacturer Junkers
Designer Hermann Pohlmann
First flight 17 September 1935
Introduction 1936
Retired 1945 (Luftwaffe)
Primary users Luftwaffe
Regia Aeronautica
Royal Romanian Air Force
Bulgarian Air Force
Number built Estimated 6,500
The design of the Ju 87 had begun in 1933 as part of the Sturzbomber-Programm.
The Ju 87 was to be powered by the British Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine. Ten
sixpence.[7] The first Ju 87 prototype was built by AB Flygindustri (sv) in
Sweden and secretly brought to Germany in late 1934. It was to have been
completed in April 1935, but, due to the inadequate strength of the airframe,
construction was not completed until October 1935
Despite being chosen, the design was still lacking and drew frequent criticism
from Wolfram von Richthofen.
These problems were to be resolved by installing the Daimler-Benz DB 600 engine,
but delays in development forced the installation of the Jumo 210 Da in-line
engine.
Specifications (Ju 87 B-2)
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 11.00 m (36 ft 1.07 in)
Wingspan: 13.8 m (45 ft 3.30 in)
Height: 4.23 m (13 ft 10.53 in)
Empty weight: 3,205 kg (7,086 lb)
Loaded weight: 4,320 kg (9,524 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 5,000 kg (11,023 lb)
(1,184 hp (883 kW))
Propellers: Three-blade Junkers VS 5 propeller, 1 per engine
Propeller diameter: 3.4 m (11 ft 1.85 in)
Performance
Never exceed speed: 600 km/h (373 mph) (373 mph)
Maximum speed: 390 km/h @ 4,400 m (242 mph @ 13,410 ft)
Range: 500 km (311 mi) with 500 kg (1,100 lb) bomb load
Service ceiling: 8,200 m (26,903 ft) with 500 kg (1,100 lb) bomb load
Armament
machine gun to rear
(110 lb), two bombs underneath each wing.
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