Junkers Ju 89
Junkers · Germany · first flew 1937 · bomber
The Junkers Ju 89 was a German four-engine heavy bomber prototype developed in the mid-1930s as part of the Luftwaffe's Uralbomber (Ural bomber) programme to create a strategic bomber capable of reaching targets deep in the Soviet Union. Only two prototypes were built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 26.49 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- German WWII-era heavy strategic bomber prototype — the Uralbomber
- Four-engine low-wing monoplane competing with the Do 19 for the strategic bomber role
- Programme cancelled in 1937 in favour of medium bombers
Large four-engine low-wing monoplane with a twin-fin tail, smooth stressed-skin construction, and a glazed nose similar in overall layout to contemporary British and American heavy bombers; the Junkers double-wing trailing edge flap system is a detail recognition feature.
Specifications
- The Junkers Ju 89 has a length of 26.49 m (87 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 35.27 m (116 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 390 km/h (242 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in December 1936 (with further flight testing through 1937), the Ju 89 competed against the Dornier Do 19. General Walther Wever, the only senior Luftwaffe leader who strongly championed strategic bombing, was killed in an air accident in 1936, and the programme was cancelled under Göring in 1937 in favour of twin-engine medium bombers. One prototype was later converted for transport duties.
Variants
Only two prototypes were built; one was converted to a transport aircraft for passenger evaluation.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service as a bomber; one conversion flew limited transport duties before the war.
Related aircraft
- Junkers Ju 90
- Ju 88
- Junkers Ju 87 Stuka
- Junkers Ju 160
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- CANT Z.1007 Alcione
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