Junkers Ju 287
Junkers · Germany · first flew 1944 · bomber
The Junkers Ju 287 was a radical German experimental jet bomber notable for being the world's first aircraft to fly with a forward-swept wing. Built in great haste with salvaged components, the prototype flew in 1944 to prove the aerodynamic concept.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 18.3 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Forward-swept wing jet bomber — unique configuration in WW2
- Four Jumo 004 turbojets in paired underwing/nose-cheek nacelles
- Jury-rigged fixed undercarriage from Heinkel He 177 and Junkers Ju 352
The forward-swept wing — angling forward from root to tip rather than backward — is the defining and unique feature of the Ju 287. Four turbojets in an unusual arrangement (two under the forward fuselage, two on wing-root pylons) and a hastily assembled fixed undercarriage complete the picture.
Specifications
- The Junkers Ju 287 has a length of 18.3 m (60 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 20.11 m (66 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 559 km/h (347 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in August 1944, the Ju 287 V1 was assembled from mismatched parts to test forward-swept wing aerodynamics quickly. The forward sweep was intended to shift the wing's aerodynamic centre forward, allowing a large bomb bay without tail weight penalties. Two prototypes flew before the war ended; development continued briefly in the USSR.
Variants
The V1 was the initial improvised prototype; the V2 and V3 were more refined versions under construction when the war ended. Soviet engineers completed further testing with the V3 after capturing the programme.
Where you'll see it
Never entered operational service. The programme was a pure aerodynamic research effort that demonstrated forward-swept wing viability decades before the concept was revisited in the Grumman X-29 and Sukhoi Su-47.
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