The Junkers Ju 288, originally known within the Junkers firm as the EF 074, was a German bomber project designed during World War II, which only ever flew in prototype form.
The first of an eventual 22 development aircraft flew on 29 November 1940.
Before any of these could start production, the entire line up was renamed the Ju 388, the vastly improved performance warranting a different 8-388 airframe number from the RLM for the design.
Variants
Ju 288A
First seven prototypes with BMW engines
Ju 288B
Seven prototypes with slightly enlarged airframes and better defensive armament
Ju 288C
Final eight prototypes with two Daimler-Benz DB 606 or 610 “power system” engines.
This version was selected for serial production in 1944, but the program was abandoned before this could take place.
Ju 288D
Mock-up of a Ju-288C with improved tail armament
Ju 288G
Design for an anti-ship version armed with a 355.6 mm (14 in) recoilless cannon
Ju 388 Störtebeker
The Junkers Ju 388 Störtebeker is a World War II German Luftwaffe multi-role aircraft based on the Ju 88 airframe by way of the Ju 188.
It differed from its predecessors in being intended for high altitude operation, with design features such as a pressurized cockpit for its crew.
The Ju 388 was introduced very late in the war, and production problems along with the deteriorating war conditions meant that few were built.
Ju 388J
Heavy fighter / night fighter.
Ju 388K
High-altitude bomber.
Ju 388L
Photo-reconnaissance aircraft.
Ju 388M
Proposed torpedo bomber based on the Ju 388K.
‘145’
A captured Ju 388L modified with an early ‘fly by wire’ control system in support of the development of the Soviet OKB-1 150 jet bomber.
Specifications
Ju 288C-1
Crew
4
(C-2 5)
Length
18.15 m (59 ft 7 in)
Wingspan
22.657 m (74 ft 4 in)
Height
5 m (16 ft 5 in)
Wing area
64.7 m2 (696 sq ft)
Empty weight
13,400 kg (29,542 lb)
Gross weight
21,390 kg (47,157 lb)
Fuel capacity
5,360 l (1,420 US gal; 1,180 imp gal) maximum internal fuel (4,915 kg (10,836 lb))
Powerplant
2 × Daimler-Benz DB 610 24-cylinder Coupled V-12 liquid-cooled piston engines, 2,200 kW (2,950 hp) each
Propellers
4-bladed constant-speed propellers
Performance
Maximum speed
655 km/h (407 mph, 354 kn) at 6,800 m (22,300 ft) (estimated)
Cruise speed
518 km/h (322 mph, 280 kn) (estimated)
Landing speed
150 km/h (93 mph; 81 kn) (estimated)
Range
2,600 km (1,600 mi, 1,400 nmi) (estimated)
Service ceiling
10,400 m (34,100 ft) (estimated)
Rate of climb
8.167 m/s (1,607.7 ft/min) (estimated)
Armament
Guns
4 × 13 mm (0.51 in) MG 131 machine guns
1 × 15 mm (0.59 in) MG 151 cannon or 20 mm (0.79 in) MG 151/20 cannon