In early 1944, a desperate Germany launched a last-ditch attempt to produce a heavy bomber.
Junkers proposed its project to the RLM, a bomber built using components from other existing aircraft. It would use the pressurised cabin, belly pan and outer wing sections of the Ju 388K, which would be attached to the rear fuselage of a Ju 188E, while the double fin tail of the Ju 288C would be used. The only new parts would be an extended central fuselage and central wing sections, which would make the Ju 488 a larger machine equipped with four BMW 801 engines.
With its large wingspan, the Ju 488 would be equipped with four landing gear struts.
Relocated to France, work on the Ju 488 began in Toulouse in early 1944. Work progressed rapidly, but after the Allied landings in Normandy on 6 June 1944, it was decided to move the incomplete fuselage to Bernburg in Germany to complete it. However, while being transported by rail, the convoy was attacked by French resistance fighters and the pieces of its fuselage were badly damaged, to the extent that they could not be salvaged. The project continued for some time, but was officially cancelled in November 1944 by the RLM, as it was no longer time to develop heavy bombers but defensive fighters.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers_Ju_488Specifications (Ju 488A-1 - estimated)
Data from Sharp (2016)[1]
General characteristics
Crew: 3
Length: 20.34 m (66 ft 9 in)
Wingspan: 30.87 m (101 ft 3 in)
Fuel capacity: 4,750 L (1,250 US gal; 1,040 imp gal)
Powerplant: 4 × BMW 801TJ or BMW 802 24-cylinder liquid-cooled 6-bank in-line radial piston engines 2,500 PS (2,500 hp; 1,800 kW)
Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed propellers, 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in) diameter
Performance
Maximum speed: 591 km/h (367 mph, 319 kn) at 90% power
Cruise speed: 423 km/h (263 mph, 229 kn)
Combat range: 1,750 km (1,090 mi, 940 nmi)
Armament
Guns: 2 × 20 mm MG 151 cannon in remote tail turret
Bombs: Typically 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb) in internal bay
Author
Topic: Junkers Ju 488 for Frankenplane professionals (Read 207 times)
