Junkers EF 61

EF 61
Role	Bomber
Manufacturer	Junkers
First flight	4 March 1937
Status	Prototype
Primary user	Luftwaffe
Number built	2
Developed from	Junkers Ju 49

The Junkers EF 61 was a German prototype twin-engined high-altitude bomber aircraft of the 1930s. Only two examples were built, but it provided valuable information on pressure cabins which aided the design of later pressurised aircraft.

Design and development

The pressurised cabin of the Junkers EF 61 was based on that of the Junkers Ju 49. The EF 61 was one of the few German high-altitude bomber and reconnaissance projects before the World War II. The project started in September 1935 and the maiden flight took place on 4 March 1937, but on 19 September of that year the EF 61 V1 was destroyed in a crash. The second prototype EF 61 V2 was ready in late 1937 but also crashed in December 1937, even before high altitude testing had started. After that the project was abandoned. The project eventually lead to the high altitude reconnaissance aircraft of the Junkers Ju 86 type in World War II.

Specifications

Data from

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 14.34 m (47 ft 1 in)
• Wingspan: 27 m (88 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 65 m² (700 sq ft)
• Powerplant: 2 × Daimler-Benz DB 600A V-12 inverted liquid-cooled direct fuel injection piston engines, 670 kW (900 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 350 km/h (217 mph; 189 kn) at 12,400 m (40,682 ft)
• Range: 6,000 km (3,728 mi; 3,240 nmi) planned
• Service ceiling: 15,000 m (49,213 ft) minimum

Armament

• Guns: provision for a single MG15 machine gun
• Bombs: internal bomb bay for 4 x 250 kg (551 lb) bombs

Book

• Hitler's Luftwaffe: A Pictorial History and Technical Encyclopedia of Hitler's Air Power in World War II (Hardcover)

External links

• Warbirds Resource Group data on the EF 61
• Aircraft Photo