Junkers EF 61

The Junkers EF 61 was a German prototype twin-engined high-altitude bomber aircraft of the 1930s. Only two examples were built, but it provided valuable information on pressure cabins which aided the design of later pressurised aircraft.

EF 61
Role Bomber
Manufacturer Junkers
First flight 4 March 1937
Status Prototype
Primary user Luftwaffe
Number built 2
Developed from Junkers Ju 49

Design and development

The pressurised cabin of the Junkers EF 61 was based on that of the Junkers Ju 49. The EF 61 was one of the few German high-altitude bomber and reconnaissance projects before World War II. The project started in September 1935 and the maiden flight took place on 4 March 1937, but on 19 September of that year the EF 61 V1 was destroyed in a crash.[1] The second prototype EF 61 V2 was ready in late 1937 but also crashed in December 1937, even before high-altitude testing had started. After that the project was abandoned.[1] The project eventually led to the high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft of the Junkers Ju 86 type in World War II.

Specifications

Data from [2][3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 14.34 m (47 ft 1 in)
  • Wingspan: 27 m (88 ft 7 in)
  • Wing area: 65 m2 (700 sq ft)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Daimler-Benz DB 600A V-12 inverted liquid-cooled direct fuel injection piston engines, 670 kW (900 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 350 km/h (220 mph, 190 kn) at 12,400 m (40,682 ft)
  • Range: 6,000 km (3,700 mi, 3,200 nmi) planned
  • Service ceiling: 15,000 m (49,000 ft) minimum

Armament

  • Guns: provision for a single MG15 machine gun
  • Bombs: internal bomb bay for 4 x 250 kg (551 lb) bombs

References
  1. Green, William, "The Warplanes of the Third Reich", Galahad Books, New York, 1986, Library of Congress card number 86-80568, ISBN 0-88365-666-3, page 447.
  2. "Junkers EF-61" (in German). www.flugzeug-lorenz.de. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  3. "Junkers EF 61". www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org. Retrieved 7 May 2012.

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