Junkers Ju 90

Infobox Aircraft
name = Ju 90

caption = Ju-90 V1puic|
|log=2008 September 2
type = Airliner
manufacturer = Junkers
designer =
first flight = 28 August 1937
introduced = 1939
retired =
status =
primary user = Lufthansa
more users = Luftwaffe
produced =
number built = 17
unit cost =
developed from = Junkers Ju 89
variants with their own articles = Junkers Ju 290

The Junkers Ju 90 was an airliner developed by Junkers for "Lufthansa" shortly before World War II. It was based on the Junkers Ju 89 bomber, which did not progress beyond prototype stage. During the war, the "Luftwaffe" impressed these aircraft for use as military transports.

Design and development

The origins of wide-body commercial aircraft stem from the failed strategic long range bomber program called the Ural bomber. It was based on the Junkers Ju 89 bomber, which did not progress beyond prototype stage.http://www.eads.net/1024/en/eads/history/airhist/1930_1939/Junkers_Ju_90.html.] The prototypes of the Ju 89 that was created for this program, were rejected by RLM ("Reichsluftfahrtministerium", Reich Aviation Ministry).

Deutsche Lufthansa AG put a request for a long distance commercial aircraft as early as 1933. However when the Ju 89 program was abandoned by Luftwaffe in April 1937, the third prototype was in a semi-complete state. Although it was rejected by RLM, it did arouse interest with Lufthansa. At the request of Lufthansa, it was rebuilt as an airliner, retaining the wings and tail of the original design, but incorporating a new, wider fuselage. The fuselage was a complete new construction and which was much broader than the original Ju 89 fuselage. This new design was designated as Ju 90.http://www.eads.net/1024/en/eads/history/airhist/1930_1939/Junkers_Ju_90.html.]

The first prototype designated Junkers Ju 90 was essentially a Ju 89 with a wider fuselage for carrying passengers. It was supposed to be powered by four Daimler-Benz DB 600C engines delivering 669 kW each. It was a all-metal, low-wing aircraft fitted with cantilevered horizontal stabilizers.

RLM also wanted to use this aircraft as a Military Transport. Hence subsequent prototypes had to be fitted with BMW 132 radial engines delivering only 610 kW. It is possible that it was intended to use the Ju 89 V3 as a pure cargo aircraft at this time. During the war, the "Luftwaffe" impressed these aircraft for use as military transports.http://www.eads.net/1024/en/eads/history/airhist/1930_1939/Junkers_Ju_90.html.]

The maiden flight of the Ju 90 V1 took place on August 281937. Due to its extensive wide body design, the aircraft earned the nickname "The big Dessauer". Deutsche Lufthansa carried out the long-distance test. It is believed that enthusiasm was expressed over the new wide-body airliner able to carry up to 40 passengers. During the following flight tests, this prototype crashed on 7 February 1938 due to structural failure during over speed.http://www.eads.net/1024/en/eads/history/airhist/1930_1939/Junkers_Ju_90.html.]

A second prototype was delivered to South African Airways in May 1938 for operational test flights. This second prototype, the Ju 90 V2 "Preussen" crashed during tropical flight tests during takeoff on November 26 1938 in Bathurst, South Africa. This crash is probably attributed to an engine failure during take off.

Eventually Lufthansa was satisfied enough to order three aircraft. The RLM ("Reichsluftfahrtministerium", Reich Aviation Ministry) also ordered one for trials, and South African Airways ordered two with Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engines delivering 883 Kw. Instead both of these aircraft were impressed by Luftwaffe. The RLM's aircraft was eventually also provided to "Lufthansa", who also received the South African Airways machines. It is said that the Ju 90 V3 "Bayern" flew a total of 62,572 km in 1938.http://www.eads.net/1024/en/eads/history/airhist/1930_1939/Junkers_Ju_90.html.]

A total of ten prototypes were planned with the fourth prototype Ju 90 Z2 serving as the production design.http://www.eads.net/1024/en/eads/history/airhist/1930_1939/Junkers_Ju_90.html.] Lufthansa finally ordered a total 12 of this design. Just six were delivered until 1940. These aircraft were transferred to Luftwaffe together with further deliveries from Junkers. With the outbreak of war, the Ju 90s were briefly impressed into the "Luftwaffe" (taking part in the invasion of Norway), then returned to "Lufthansa", and eventually taken back by the "Luftwaffe".http://www.eads.net/1024/en/eads/history/airhist/1930_1939/Junkers_Ju_90.html.]

In April 1939 the RLM asked Junkers for a further development of the Ju 90 for military transport purposes. The Ju 90 V5 and V6, also known as Ju 90B were the prototypes of this military design. They got a new wing and a BMW 139 engine instead of the older BMW 132. The Ju 90B carried supplies to Rommel, the Ju 90 could roughly transport the same cargo as seven Junkers Ju 52/3m. http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4618.]

One had a loading ramp under the fuselage to facilitate the carriage of larger cargoes. The Ju 90 V5 flew first on 5 December 1939. A special equipment of the V6 was a boarding ramp in the floor of the fuselage. This ramp could be used to load cars and larger cargo freight.http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4618.]

In the end, only 17 Ju 90s of all versions were built. At least three survived the war to fall into Allied hands, but were scrapped soon afterwords with none survived.

Variants

As newer tecnologies became available, this aircraft underwent further modifications. Several variants were developed based on the transport need or requirement of the time. An aircraft originally designated as Civilian transport, ended up being military transport in various capacities.

Ju 90 V1 (Nickname Big Dessauer)

This was essentially original Ju 89 V3. The Ju 90 V-1 took a maiden flight on 28 August 1937. The impressive size earned the nickname "The big Dessauer". Flight testing was satisfactory. Lufthansa carried out the long-distance test. Press and passengers quickly became enthusiastic about Junkers new wide-body airliner with the spacious fuselage providing comfortable room for up to 40 passengers. This prototype crashed during a test flight on 7 February 1938. It is supposed to have related to structural issues.

Ju 90 V2 (Nickname Preussen)

A second Prototype of Ju 90. It addressed the failures discovered during flight tests.

Ju 90 V3 (Ju 90A-1 Nickname Bayern)

This was a further improved prototype of Ju 90 V1. It essentially addressed structural and engine failure issues discovered during flight trials. It is said to have flown a total of 62,572 km in 1938.

Ju 90 V5

This was a military transport based on RLM's Specifications in Spring 1939. This variant had a longer wing and a BMW139 engine instead of the older BMW 132. Modifications were also made at the tail unit and the undercarriage. This variant took maiden flight on 5 December 1939.

Ju 90 V6 (Ju 90B)

This variant had a Loading Ramp in the floor at the rear end of the fuselage.

Ju 90 V7 (Ju 90S)

For the Ju 90 V7, the engine was replaced with Air cooled Radial BMW 139 which delivered 1550hp. However this was again replaced with BMW 801C capable of producing 1660hp. This was due to the problems with the BMW 139. This was also the bomber variant of Ju 90. Incidentally the predecessor of Ju 90, the ill fated Ju 89, was found unacceptable as a bomber. However, this variant did finally see use both as a bomber and as a military transport.http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4618.]

Ju 90 V8

This was a armed transport for the military. The V8 version was equipped with a modified wing with increased span of 7 meters. The V8 was also equipped with machine-gun turrets. It had a single MG 151 and five MG 131. Delays were caused due to intensive modifications of the original Ju 90 design and possibly due to problems with the development of the Ju 88 program.

Ju 90 V9 and V10

Junkers got an additional RLM request for a further two prototypes (V9, V10), which seemed to be dropped at the beginning of WWII. These military versions flew in late 1941, but never entered production. Further refinements of the design were suggested, which led eventually to the Junkers Ju 290.

Operators

;
* Luftwaffe
* Lufthansa

pecifications (Ju 90 V3 aka Ju 90 A-1)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=
crew=4
capacity= 40 passengers
payload main=
payload alt=
length main= 26.45 m
length alt= 86 ft 10 in
span main= 35.30 m
span alt= 115 ft 8 in
height main= 7.50 m
height alt= 24 ft 7 in
area main= 184 m²
area alt= 1,979 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 19,225 kg
empty weight alt= 42,295 lb
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 33,680 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 74,096 lb
more general=
engine (prop)= BMW 132 H-1
type of prop=
number of props=4
power main= 619 kW
power alt= 830 hp
power original=
max speed main= 350 km/h
max speed alt= 219 mph, 189 kts IAS
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 2,092 km
range alt= 1,308 miles, 1137 NM
ceiling main= 5,750 m
ceiling alt= 18,860 ft
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Junkers Ju 89
* Junkers Ju 290
* Junkers Ju 390

similar aircraft=

lists=
* List of military aircraft of Germany
* List of airliners


translations interpretations all dictionaries interface for translators