The Coolest 'Radical' Aircaft of World War II

[rebel8303]

check out www.luft46.com
that's the stuff!

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Never seen this one

Heres the Ju-287.

Type: Heavy Bomber
Origin: Junkers Flugzeug und Motorenwerks AG
Model: V1 to V3
Crew: V3: Three
First Flight:
Ju 287 V1: August 16, 1944
Ju 287 V2: 1947 by Soviet Union
Number of Flights: V1: 17
Number Produced: 2, (V3) not completed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Engine:
Ju 287 V1 V2:
Model: Junkers Jumo 004
Type: Turbojets
Number: Four Thrust: 1,980lb (900kg)
Note: Four 2,645lb (1,200kg) thrust Walter 501 takeoff
assistance rockets also mounted.

Ju 287 V3:
Model: BMW 003A
Type: Turbojets
Number: Six Thrust: 1,760lb (800kg)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dimensions:
Span: 65 ft. 11¾ in. (20.11m)
Length:
Ju 287 V1: 60 ft. 0½ in. (18.30m)
Height: N/A
Wing Area: N/A

Weights:
Empty: 12,510kg
Loaded: 20,000kg
Performance:
Maximum speed:
Ju 287 V1: 560km/h (348mph)
Ju 287 V3: 865kn/h (537mph)
Range with max. bombs (est.):
Ju 287 V3: 1585km (985 miles)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armament:
Two MG 131 in remote control tail barbette.

Bombs: Ju 287 V3
8,818 lb. (4000 kg)

Comments:
One of the strangest Luftwaffe aircraft to ever claw it's way into the air was the Junkers Ju 287. Begun in early 1943, the Ju 287 incorporated many advanced aerodynamic concepts, the most striking being the swept forward wings. This design feature was deemed radical enough to warrent the construction of a testbed aircraft, pictured above. This testbed flew on August 16, 1944. The aircraft was a Frankenstien's monster, pieced together from several diffent aircraft. Included were the nosewheels from two B-24 Liberators, the fuselage of an He 177, mainwheels off a Ju 352, and the tail was constructed of Ju 388 parts.
17 test flights proved the concept to have excellent handling characteristics and would have proven a problem had not the allies overrun the testing airfield, capturing the the V1 and the nearly complete V2. The V2 was flown by the Soviet Union in 1947. The V3 failed to get off the drawing board and would have had several improvements.
http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/ju287.html

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

ok well if you were to ask my opinion then I would say the P-51. o and rebel dude, that is an awesome cat.

Just a question. Why do you think the P-51 was a radical design, because it was actually quite conventional in design?

 

[rebel8303]

So that's the Ju 287...
Ok you win!
But in the site I mentioned there are even more radical designs. I did not checked if there were any prototypes...

F4U could be considered as a radical plane with its bent wings

 

[Erich]

silly earthlings ..........

luftwaffe late war developments

 

[Gnomey]

Did that ever leave the drawing board Erich? (I don't think it did)

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I think everyone is aware of Luft46.

 

[Erich]

Gnomey that is just one of about 15 mockup drawings. Actually there was at least 1-2 in the hopes of flying stages. A rather large vehicle it was too.

 

[kiwimac]

HE 280; Ambrosini SAI 403; SS4; SM 91 and 92.

 

[rebel8303]

Erich that I have info that there was a prototype...

 

[grumman-cats]

I personally like the curtiss XP-55 with the canards. I was fortunate to have seen it when it was brought into the kalamazoo airzoo for restoration. They say it should be ready for display very soon. Can't wait to get some good pics of it.

 

[evangilder]

I hope you plan on posting some of those pics, Jim! Welcome aboard, by the way.

 

[rebel8303]

The Do-335 seems quite awkward to me as well

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

perhaps but damn it looks good, i reckon it could've made it as a truely great aircraft........

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I think the Do-335 was a step in the right direction for development of piston engined aircraft.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

well it was just about the only concept that could stand up to the jets, apart from the hornet, Fury and Bearcat..........

 

[rebel8303]

I think that there would be problems of bailing out with the propellers installed that way

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

It had an ejection seat...

 

[Twitch]

For me the Go 229 was the super plane of the war for all the obvious reasons.

 

[JonJGoldberg]

As I post this I'm having 2nd thoughts... Erich, You win. Close but in 2nd is the aircraft I nominate for weird... From the conservative USA, Northrop's XP-79, as it can be argued that it was this aircraft that 1st last flew a few weeks after VJ day that set the foundation for the 'flying wings' later the 'stealth wings' of 'today'.

Some info for this aircraft can be found here http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p79.html
...The Aerial Battering Ram!!!