Ju 87 Stuka

[lingodog]

I have never been able to find either the stalling or landing speeds of this series of aircraft. Even a careful study of the B model Betriebsanleitung dated 1939 fails to reveal this information. Can you help please? Any and all information gratefully received. :-)

[leonventer]

Hi lingodog,

Couldn't find any stalling speed data, but here are landing speeds and take-off/landing runs for some Ju 87 variants:

B-1:
Landing Speed = 118 km/h (loaded), 108 km/h (no bombs, 1/3 fuel)
Take-off Run = 250 m
Landing Run = 290 m

D-1:
Landing Speed = 125 km/h (loaded)
Take-off Run = 880 m
Landing Run = 650 m

R-2:
Landing Speed = 120 km/h (loaded)
Take-off Run = 1000 m
Landing Run = 1000 m


Source:
"Vom Original zum Modell: Ju 87" by Helmut Erfurth, Bernard & Graefe Verlag, published in 1999, ISBN: 3-7637-6017-2, card cover, 81 pages.

Leon Venter

[lingodog]

Thank you Leon. I don't doubt your figures, but I wouldn't fancy landing on an improvised airstrip with a fixed undercarriage at such speeds. I certainly wouldn't fancy having an engine failure at low level on an unprepared surface. It must have been a nightmare!

[Revi16]

Originally Posted by lingodog

Thank you Leon. I don't doubt your figures, but I wouldn't fancy landing on an improvised airstrip with a fixed undercarriage at such speeds. I certainly wouldn't fancy having an engine failure at low level on an unprepared surface. It must have been a nightmare!

The speeds of 108-125kph (67-77mph) are pretty low for such a large aircraft. Which would make it a fairly docile aircraft to fly.

Robust fixed undercarriage have no problems with improvised airstrips.

Regards,
Mike

[lingodog]

Originally Posted by Revi16

The speeds of 108-125kph (67-77mph) are pretty low for such a large aircraft. Which would make it a fairly docile aircraft to fly.

Robust fixed undercarriage have no problems with improvised airstrips.

Regards,
Mike

Improvised airstrips are one thing, Mike, but in the event of engine failure away from such a facility I feel the pilot of a fixed gear aircraft having to crash land is at a great disadvantage to one who is able to retract the wheels. The obvious danger is in overturning. Aircraft that crash landed with gear retracted often escaped serious damage and could be returned to service.
Regards,
Glyn.

[lingodog]

Quick update: It seems the stalling speed of the Ju 87B was 90 km/h.

[Kutscha]

I thought the Ju87's landing gear could be jettisoned.

[lingodog]

Originally Posted by Kutscha

I thought the Ju87's landing gear could be jettisoned.

There is a well known photo of one flying without its undercarriage, but that has been declared a hoax, as the original picture showed it fitted as normal. I understand there was a study undertaken for jettisoning the gear for the shipboard variant, but I don't know if this advanced to actual hardware.