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Ju 287

Junkers · Bomber prototype · Germany · WWII (1939–1945)

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The Junkers Ju 287 was a German experimental four-jet bomber with a forward-swept-wing layout — one of the most-unusual WWII bomber prototypes. Hans Wocke designed the Ju 287 in 1943-1944; the prototype first flew on 16 August 1944. Only 2 Ju 287 prototypes were built before the war ended. The aircraft pioneered forward-swept-wing jet bomber design — a concept that resurfaced in postwar Soviet research + the American Grumman X-29 demonstrator (1984).

The Ju 287 V1 used 4 × Junkers Jumo 004B turbojet engines (1,980 lbf each) mounted on the forward fuselage + outer wings. Maximum speed 558 km/h, range 1,560 km, service ceiling 10,800 m. The aircraft used the forward-swept wing (sweep angle 25° forward, opposite of conventional backward-sweep) — providing improved low-speed handling + better stall characteristics. The wing was the V1's defining feature but also its principal vulnerability — forward-swept wings flex outward + upward under load, causing aeroelastic divergence if the wing structure is not sufficiently stiff.

Ju 287 testing was limited. The V1 (built using parts from a captured American B-24 + Heinkel He 177 + others) flew 17 test flights between August 1944 and March 1945. The Soviet Union captured the Ju 287 V1 + V2 + design documents at the Junkers factory in May 1945; the captured aircraft formed the basis of Soviet OKB-1 design work that produced the EF 131 + EF 140 prototypes 1947-1948. The forward-swept-wing concept resurfaced in the American Grumman X-29 demonstrator in 1984.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Junkers Ju 287 was a strange German experimental bomber from 1944. It had wings that swept forward instead of backward. Most jet planes have wings that sweep back toward the tail, but the Ju 287's wings went the opposite way.

Hans Wocke designed the Ju 287 in 1943 and 1944. The first prototype flew on 16 August 1944. Only 2 Ju 287 prototypes were built before the war ended in 1945. The plane had four small turbojet engines.

The forward-swept wings gave the plane good low-speed handling, which is important for landings. But the design was hard to build because the wings tended to twist under stress. The Ju 287 was about as long as a city bus and had a top speed of 347 mph.

The forward-swept-wing idea came back many years later. The American Grumman X-29 from 1984 used the same wing layout. Modern materials like carbon fiber finally made forward-swept wings safe to build, but no military plane today uses them.

Fun Facts

The Ju 287 had wings that swept forward instead of backward.
Only 2 Ju 287 prototypes were built before the war ended.
The plane first flew on 16 August 1944.
Its top speed was 347 mph.
The American Grumman X-29 from 1984 used the same wing layout.
Forward-swept wings give better low-speed handling but tend to twist under stress.

Kids’ Questions

Why are forward-swept wings unusual?

Normal swept wings tend to bend backward under stress, but they keep their shape. Forward-swept wings can twist and tear if they bend the wrong way at high speeds. For decades, no material was strong enough to build them safely. Modern carbon fiber finally made it possible in the 1980s.

What is good about a forward-swept wing?

A forward-swept wing keeps air flowing smoothly over the wing during slow flight and tight turns. This helps the plane stay controlled even at very high angles. Test planes like the X-29 proved it works, but normal swept wings are simpler and just as fast.

Variants

Ju 287 V1 + V2 (only 2 prototypes): Two prototypes only. Both captured by Soviet forces 1945.

Notable Operators

Luftwaffe (test programme only): 17 test flights August 1944 - March 1945.
Soviet Union (post-capture, 1945-1948): Captured both prototypes + design documents. Soviet OKB-1 EF 131 + EF 140 derivative programmes 1947-1948.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Ju 287 have forward-swept wings?

Junkers designer Hans Wocke chose forward-swept-wing layout for two reasons: (1) better low-speed handling — the forward sweep places the wing's centre of lift forward of the centre of gravity, improving longitudinal stability at low speeds; (2) reduced compressibility effects — the forward sweep delays Mach-effect onset at higher subsonic speeds. The principal disadvantage is aeroelastic divergence (the wing tends to twist + bend upward under load), which requires very stiff wing structure. The Ju 287 partially overcame this with internal stiffening but the technology was not fully mature.

What happened to the Ju 287 design after WWII?

The Soviet Union captured both Ju 287 prototypes + Junkers design documents in May 1945. Captured Junkers engineers (under Soviet supervision) developed the OKB-1 EF 131 (1947) + EF 140 (1948) using Ju 287 design principles. These Soviet developments did not enter service. The forward-swept-wing concept resurfaced in the American Grumman X-29 demonstrator (1984) — using composite-material wings that the WWII-era Junkers could not have produced.

Sources

Wikipedia — Junkers Ju 287