Junkers Ju 90

Ju 90
Type	Airliner
Manufacturer	Junkers
Designed by	Dessau
Maiden flight	28 August 1937
Introduced	1939
Primary users	Lufthansa Luftwaffe
Number built	17

The Junkers Ju 90 was an airliner developed 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.

When the Ju 89 project was cancelled, the third prototype was in a semi-complete state. At the request of Lufthansa, it was rebuilt as an airliner, retaining the wings and tail of the original design, but incorporating a new, wide-body fuselage. The prototype first flew on August 28 1937 and was lost in a crash the following February during testing. A second prototype was delivered to Lufthansa in May. This one also crashed during tests, but 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. Both airliner versions were designated Ju 90A-1 The RLM's aircraft was eventually also provided to Lufthansa, who also received the South African Airways machines. 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.

In late 1939, the RLM ordered prototypes for a dedicated military version. One had a loading ramp under the fuselage to facilitate the carriage of larger cargoes. Another was equipped with machine-gun turrets and modified as a heavy bomber - ironically, the role for which the Ju 89 had been rejected. 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.

In the end, only 17 Ju 90s of all versions were built. At least one survived the war to fall into Allied hands, but was scrapped soon afterwards. None survive.

Variants

• Ju 90S

Specifications (Ju 90A-1)

General characteristics

• Crew: 4
• Capacity: 40 passengers
• Length: 26.45 m (86 ft 10 in)
• Wingspan: 35.30 m (115 ft 8 in)
• Height: 7.50 m (24 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 184 m² (1,979 ft²)
• Empty weight: 19,225 kg (42,295 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 33,680 kg (74,096 lb)
• Powerplant: 4× BMW 132 H-1 , 619 kW (830 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 350 km/h (219 mph)
• Range: 2,092 km (1,308 miles)
• Service ceiling: 5,750 m (18,860 ft)

Operators

• Germany
  • Luftwaffe
  • Lufthansa

See also

Related development

• Ju 90
• Ju 290
• Ju 390

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of Germany -
• List of airliners

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Junkers Ju 90".