The Coolest 'Radical' Aircaft of World War II

[rebel8303]

Maybe because its wings were almost in the middle of the fuselage and not in the front?

[cheddar cheese]

Originally Posted by delcyros

I have a winner:
Ju-287 V1: four engined jet bomber prototype with 30 degrees forward swept wing and fixed landing gear (taken from He-177 and B-24!)

I forgot that! The -287 was a lush plane!

[FLYBOYJ]

I'm still pushng the P-55

[Camarogenius]

I sure wish you guys would post pictures in these threads! I hate having to search for all these aircraft.

[rebel8303]

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

[rebel8303]

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

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by rebel8303

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]

Originally Posted by Hellbird

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...