Junkers Ju 288
The Junkers Ju 288 was a German bomber aircraft designed during World War II, but which only ever flew in prototype form. The first of 22 development aircraft flew on November 29 1940.
Development
The Ju 288 was created as a contender for RLM's (Reichsluftfahrtministerium - "Reich Aviation Ministry") Bomber B project, a programme aimed at replacing the medium bombers in the Luftwaffe's inventory that were all based on designs of the early 1930s.
The aircraft was an advanced, four-engined derivative of the highly successful Junkers Ju 88, sharing most of its fuselage and wings. The nose was completely redesigned, however, and featured a pressurised cockpit. Power was to be supplied by four Jumo 222 engines, arranged two to each of two nacelles, with each pair driving a common propeller. This unusual arrangement, also used in the Heinkel He 177 was intended to take advantage of the benefits of four-engine power, while minimising the extra drag created by more nacelles and propellers.
Problems with Jumo 222 development meant that the first prototypes flew with BMW 801 engines instead, and when it became apparent that the Jumo 222 was not likely to become a viable powerplant in the current war situation, Daimler Benz DB 606s were used. This was the same engine layout used on the He 177, and the Ju 288 now showed the same problems that the Heinkel aircraft exhibited.
As these technical difficulties were being dealt with, the lack of a decisive strategic bombing doctrine within the Luftwaffe meant that the mission and purpose of the Ju 288 remained nebulous throughout its development. In 1944 the project was finally abandoned as the Luftwaffe's priorities became more intensely focused on homeland defence.
Variants
- Ju 388A - first seven prototypes with BMW engines
- Ju 388B - seven prototypes with slightly enlarged airframes and better defensive armament
- Ju 388C - final eight prototypes (of which only four were completed) with Daimler-Benz engines. This version was selected for serial production in 1944, but the programme was abandoned before that could take place.
- Ju 388D - mock-up of a Ju-388C with improved tail armament
- Ju 388G - design for an anti-ship version armed with a 355 mm recoilless cannon
Specifications (Ju 288B)
General Characteristics
- Crew: four
- Length: 17.79 m (58 ft 5 in)
- Wingspan: 22.65 m (74 ft 4 in)
- Height: 4.50 m (14 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 64.7 m² (696 ft²)
- Empty: kg ( lb)
- Loaded: 20,950 kg (46,186 lb)
- Maximum takeoff: kg ( lb)
- Powerplant: 2x MG 131 machine guns
- 1 × 15 mm MG 151 cannon
- 3,000 kg (6,614 lb) of bombs
Related content
Related development:
Ju 88 -
Ju 188 -
Ju 388 -
Fl 285 -
Ju 286 -
Ju 287 -
Ju 288 -
Ju 290 -
Me 290 -
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