https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers_Ju_86
The Junkers Ju 86 was a German monoplane bomber and civilian airliner designed
in the early 1930s, and employed by both sides during World War II. The civilian
model Ju 86B could carry 10 passengers. Two were delivered to Swissair and five
to Luft Hansa. In addition a single civilian Ju 86Z was delivered to the Swedish
AB Aerotransport.
In 1934, a specification for a modern twin-engined aircraft capable of operating
both as a high speed airliner for the German airline Luft Hansa and as a medium
bomber for the nascent Luftwaffe was issued to both Junkers and Heinkel. Five
prototypes were ordered from each company; the Junkers Ju 86 and Heinkel He 111.
Junkers' design was a low-winged twin engined monoplane, of all-metal stressed
skin construction. Unlike most of Junkers' previous designs, it discarded their
typical corrugated skinning in favour of smooth metal skinning which helped to
reduce drag. The craft was fitted with a narrow track retractable tailwheel
undercarriage and twin fins and rudders. It was intended to be powered by the
Junkers Jumo 205 diesel engines, which although heavy, gave better fuel
consumption than conventional petrol engines.
The bomber aircraft had a crew of four; a pilot, navigator, radio
operator/bombardier and gunner. Defensive armament consisted of three machine
guns, situated at the nose, at a dorsal position and within a retractable
ventral position. Bombs were carried vertically in four fuselage cells behind
the cockpit. The airliner version replaced the bombload with seating for 10
passengers, with fuel tanks being moved from the fuselage to the wings.
Role
Bomber, Airliner, Reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer
Junkers
Designer
Ernst Zindel
First flight
1934
Introduction
1936
Status
retired
Primary user
Luftwaffe
Number built
~900
The bomber was field tested in the Spanish Civil War, where it proved inferior
to the Heinkel He 111. Four Ju 86 D-1s arrived in Spain in early February 1937,
but after a few sorties one of them (coded 26-1) was shot down on 23 February by
Republican fighters with the loss of three crewmen killed and one captured. A
replacement aircraft was sent from Germany, but in the summer of 1937 another
D-1 was lost in an accident, and the three remaining aircraft were sold to the
Nationalist air forces. It was again used in the 1939 invasion of Poland, but
retired soon after. In January 1940, the Luftwaffe tested the prototype Ju 86P
with a longer wingspan, pressurized cabin, Jumo 207A1 turbocharged diesel
engines, and a two-man crew. The Ju 86P could fly at heights of 12,000 m (39,000
ft) and higher on occasion, where it was felt to be safe from Allied fighters.
The British Westland Welkin and Soviet Yakovlev Yak-9PD were developed
specifically to counter this threat.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, South Africa's Ju 86Zs were militarized
and armed as bombers with defensive guns and external bomb racks. The aircraft
were initially used for coastal patrols along with the sole Ju 86 K-1, playing
an important role in the interception of the German blockade runner SS Watussi
in December 1939. In May 1940, they were used to re-equip No. 12 Squadron SAAF,
which was deployed in the East African Campaign from June 1940. It flew its
first bombing missions on 14 June 1940. As more modern aircraft became
available, the South African Ju 86s were passed from squadron to squadron,
seeing their last use with No. 22 Squadron SAAF at Durban, who used it, along
with the Avro Anson in the coastal reconnaissance role, finally retiring its Ju
86s in September 1942, when it re-equipped with Lockheed Venturas.
Specifications (Ju 86R)
General characteristics
Crew: 2 (pilot and radio operator)
Length: 16.46 m (54 ft)
Wingspan: 32 m (105 ft)
Height: 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in)
Empty weight: 6,700 kg (14,800 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 11,530 kg (25,420 lb)
Performance
Maximum speed: 420 km/h (260 mph) above 9,150 m (30,000 ft)
Range: 1,580 km (980 mi)
Service ceiling: 13,000 m (42,650 ft)
Rate of climb: 4.67 m/s (900 ft/min)
Armament
Guns: defensive armament of three MG 15 machine guns
Bombs: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of bombs
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