Junkers Ju 290
Junkers · Germany · first flew 1942 · transport aircraft
The Junkers Ju 290 was a large four-engine German maritime patrol and long-range transport aircraft derived from the civil Ju 90 airliner. It flew reconnaissance missions over the Atlantic and served as Hitler's proposed 'Amerika Bomber' candidate.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Double-deck fuselage cross-section with ventral loading ramp |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Very large four-engine Luftwaffe maritime patrol and transport
- Double-deck fuselage cross-section with ventral loading ramp
- Tall single fin with rounded top
Very large, with four BMW 801 radials, a high aspect-ratio low wing, and a notably deep fuselage featuring the distinctive tail loading ramp. The tall rounded single fin distinguishes it from the Fw 200.
Specifications
- The Junkers Ju 290 has a length of 28.64 m (94 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 42 m (138 ft).
- Typical crew: 9 crew, up to 40 troops.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed from the pre-war Ju 90 airliner, the Ju 290 entered Luftwaffe service in 1943 primarily for maritime reconnaissance and U-boat cooperation over the Atlantic. It featured a unique ventral loading ramp for rapid cargo or vehicle loading. Only about 65 were completed before the end of the war in a factory already under pressure from Allied bombing.
Variants
The A-series was the main production version with progressive upgrades to armament and radar. The Ju 290 B was a proposed but not completed heavy bomber variant. The Ju 390 was a six-engine development.
Where you'll see it
Operated by Luftwaffe Fernaufklärungsgruppen (long-range reconnaissance groups) over the Atlantic; a handful served as VIP transports late in the war.
Related aircraft
- Junkers Ju 187
- Junkers Ju 322
- Junkers Ju 388
- Junkers Ju 390
- Avro York
- Beechcraft GB-2
- Beechcraft JRB-2 Voyager
- Beechcraft JRB-3 Voyager
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