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Junkers Ju 252

Juncker Family History Ju 252

Lufthansa approached Germany's Junkers for a new transport design as a successor to its classic three-engine Junkers Ju 52 series. The entrance will be larger in size to provide more interior space while addressing performance and operating range issues. Like the previous Ju 52, the new design will be based on a three-engine configuration, with the third engine mounted in the nose and the remaining two in the wings.

The resulting aircraft became the Ju 252, whose success was largely derailed by Germany's increasing involvement in World War II (1939-1945).

This aircraft ("EF.77" project model) has a low-position straight monoplane wing mounted in the forward midship. The fuselage is long and slender, and the sides are dotted with rectangular observation windows. The cockpit is at the front, behind the bow engine unit, and the tail is conventional with a single vertical tail and low-mounted stabilizers. A traditional "trailer" landing gear was introduced. Inside, the Ju 252 can comfortably carry up to 35 people.

Power comes from 3 Junkers Jumo 211F liquid-cooled V12 engines with 1,350 hp each. A hydraulically powered loading ramp (designed by Junkers himself) was used to level the aircraft when parked (literally raising the tail wheel off the ground to level the cargo hold), allowing heavy cargo to be boarded and disembarked.

Entering 1942, Germany was fully committed to the war and imposed strict material restrictions on the production of non-military aircraft. The Ju 252 program was thus affected, and only prototypes and those airframes under construction at the time of the order were allowed to complete.

This brought the series to a total of only 15 aircraft in service with the Luftwaffe during the conflict - with only 1 x 13mm MG 131 machine guns in the dorsal turret and 2 x 7.92mm MG 15 machine guns in the side pylon positions for defense.

The Luftwaffe then went back to Junkers and commissioned engineers to design a replica of the Ju 252, built using far less war materials. This work was followed by the production of the Ju 352 "Herkules" transport aircraft, of which more examples were produced - fifty.

Needless to say, the Ju 252's attempt to replace the popular three-engine Ju 52 line failed, but not because of a direct failure of the aircraft.

The production version of the Ju 252A, with a crew of three to four, a total length of 25 meters, a wingspan of 34 meters, and a height of 5.75 meters. The kerb weight is 13,130kg and the maximum take-off weight (MTOW) is 22,260kg.

Performance specifications include a top speed of 440km/h, a cruising speed of 335km/h, a maximum range of 4,000km and a service cap of up to 6,300m. Climb to 750 feet per minute.

Specification

Basic

Year:

1943

Status:

Retired, out of service

Staff:

Production

[15 units]:

Junkers - Nazi Germany

Roles

- Traffic

- Commercial Market

Dimensions

Length:

25.11m

Width:

111.88 ft (34.1 m)

Height:

5.75m

Weight

Curb Weight:

13,130 kg

MTOW:

53,021 lbs (24,050 kg)

(difference: +24.074lb)

Performance

3 x Junkers Jumo 211F V12 liquid-cooled engines, 1,350 hp each.

Performance

Maximum Speed:

273 mph (440 km/h; 238 knots)

Service Limit:

20,669 ft (6,300 m; 3.91 mi)

Maximum range:

2,473 miles (3,980 km; 2,149 nautical miles)

Rate of climb:

750 ft/min (229 m/min)

Armor

Default:

1 x 13mm heavy machine gun MG 131 in the rear turret

1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun at the left beam position

1 x 7.92mm MG 15 machine gun in right beam position

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Specification

BASICS

Year:

2016

Status:

Active, In-Service

Crew:

MANUFACTURING

[ 491 Units ] :

Lockheed Martin / Northrop Grumman / BAe Systems - USA

ROLES

- Fighter

- Ground Attack

- Anti-Ship

- Navy / Maritime

- Reconnaissance (RECCE)

DIMENSIONS

Length:

50. 43 ft (15. 37 m)

Width/Span:

34. 94 ft (10. 65 m)

Height:

17. 32 ft (5. 28 m)

WEIGHTS

Empty Weight:

29,002 lb (13,155 kg)

MTOW:

70,107 lb (31,800 kg)

(Diff: +41,105lb)

POWER

1 x Pratt & Whitney F135 F119-PW-100 turbofan developing 40,000 lb thrust with afterburner with General Electric GE F120 alternate core engine.

PERFORMANCE

Maximum Speed:

1,199 mph (1,930 kph; 1,042 kts)

Service Ceiling:

50,000 feet (15,240 m; 9. 47 miles)

Maximum Range:

1,379 miles (2,220 km; 1,199 nm)

ARMAMENT

STANDARD (F-35A):

1 x 25mm GAU-12/U internal four-barreled automatic cannon.

OPTIONAL (F-35B and F-35C):

1 x 25mm GAU-12/U cannon in an external pod ("missionized gun").

OPTIONAL:

The F-35 series will house all primary armament in an internal weapons bay. However, six optional external pylons will be made available (two of these reserved for AIM-9X Sidewinder support). Mission-specific ordnance can include a combination of the following:

AIM-9X "Sidewinder" short-range, air-to-air missiles.

AIM-120B/C AMRAAM medium-range, air-to-air missiles.

AIM-132 ASRAAM short-range, air-to-air missiles.

2,000lb GBU-10 "Paveway II" guided bombs.

2,000lb GBU-24A/B "Paveway III" guided bombs.

2,000lb GBU-31 JDAM bombs.

2,000lb MK-84 general purpose bombs.

2,000lb MK-84 BSU-50 "Ballute" general purpose bombs.

2,000lb GBU-31 JDAM bombs.

1,000lb GNU-16 "Paveway II" guided bombs.

1,000lb MK-83 BLU-110 general purpose bombs.

1,000lb GBU-32 JDAM bombs.

500lb CBU-38 JDAM bombs.

500lb GBU-12 "Paveway II" laser-guided bombs.

500lb MK-82 general purpose bombs.

MK-83 BSU-85 general purpose bombs.

CBU-99/100 "Rockeye II" cluster bombs.

CBU-103/105 munitions dispenser.

AGM-154 A/C JSOW glide bombs.

"Brimstone" / Joint Common Missiles.

Phase I SDB (under development).

"Stormshadow" cruise missiles.

AGM-158 JASSM missiles.

MXU-648/CNU-88 Baggage Pod.

BDU-57/58/60 laser-guided training round.

MK-76/MK-58/BDU-48.

426-gallon external / jettisonable fuel tanks.

VARIANTS

Model 220 - Lockheed-Martin Model Designation of X-35 prototype.

X-35 - Joint Strike Fighter Program Prototype Designation.

X-35A - Base conventional take-off fighter prototype.

X-35B - STOVL prototype.

X-35C - Navalized prototype.

F-35A - Initial Production Variant; principle use by USAF; base export model; internal 25mm cannon; conventional take-off and landing.

F-35B - STOVL variant principally for USMC, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy; integrated lift-fan; external 25mm gun pod; decreased payload capacity.

F-35C - Navalized variant for carrier take-off and arrestor landings; reinforced internal structure and undercarriage; arrestor hook; increased control surfaces; folding wings for carrier storage.

F-35 Block 2B - Sans internal gun and external weapons support; fielded by single USMC squadron; availability in 2015.

F-35 Block 3i - Similar to Block 2B with added support for GBU-31 ordnance; updated processor unit; availability in 2016.

F-35 Block 3F - Internal gun support as well as external weapons support; U. S. Navy and export standardized production model; availability in 2018-2019.

F-35 Block 4 - Planned software upgrades across Block 4. 1 through Block 4. 4; availability for mid-2025; improved sensors; broadened weapons support.