Junkers EF 61

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Junkers EF 61
Junker EF 61 sketch.jpg
Type: military altitude test aircraft
Design country:

German Reich NSGerman Reich (Nazi era) German Empire

Manufacturer:

Junkers

First flight:

March 4, 1937

Commissioning:

only prototypes

Number of pieces:

2

The Junkers EF 61 was a military altitude test aircraft from Junkers .

history

The development aircraft (EF) was designed in 1936 after an order from the Reich Aviation Ministry (RLM) for an altitude test aircraft. Since Junkers already had experience with the construction of special high-altitude aircraft thanks to the Ju 49 , the RLM transferred the design of this special high-altitude bomber to the aircraft manufacturer in December 1935. The order comprised two aircraft with the serial numbers 4931 and 4932, which were to be followed by a pilot series of seven. A machine gun and a total of 1000 kg bombs were provided as armament.

Both aircraft were powered by 12-cylinder Daimler-Benz 600 D V-engines with 740 kW each, because the originally planned Junkers Jumo 211s were not yet available at that time. The first flight of the first E-1 prototype took place on March 4, 1937. As early as September 1937 this machine crashed. The full-view cockpit at the tip of the fuselage, which was important for a bomber at the time, could not yet be manufactured. That is why this aircraft had a pressurized cabin similar to the Ju 49, which only allowed a very limited view of the outside.

Towards the end of 1937, the second prototype E-2 (serial number 4932) was completed, which according to the aircraft development program was intended for the Rechlin E -stelle . However, before the altitude test could begin, the second prototype also crashed shortly after its maiden flight in December 1937.

The project was then not pursued any further.

Because of the purely experimental nature of this development, the abbreviation EF for "development aircraft " remained.

technical description

The aircraft was a twin-engine, cantilevered shoulder-wing monoplane in all-metal construction with retractable normal landing gear. The cell was clad with light metal corrugated iron. The tail unit was designed with a double vertical tail unit. The machine was designed as a high-altitude bomber for two crew members. Since a pressurized cabin with a full-view cockpit was not yet available, hemispherical glazing above the aircraft nose and viewing domes were used. As a result, the pilot's view was restricted. The second prototype received a double-walled, transparent nose cap made of Reilit plastic from the Wolfen film factory, which is part of IG Farben . To prevent fogging, engine bleed air was blown between the double walls of the dome. Two Daimler-Benz DB 600 engines with 950 hp each were used as the drive . The engines were adapted to the altitude use with a newly designed charge air cooling system. The charge air coolers required for the high-altitude performance, like the water and oil coolers, were arranged in a streamlined ring shape on the front sides of the engine cowlings. Furthermore, four-blade adjustable propellers were used.

Technical specifications

  • Span: 27.00 m
  • Length: 14.36 m
  • Service ceiling: 12,400 m

See also

literature

Web links

Commons : Junkers EF 61  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files