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Junkers Ju 88 Manual
This picture of a Junkers Ju 88 A-1 appeared in the Operations Manual published by Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke AG (the manufacturer) in March 1940. Note that the Germans omitted a hyphen between the manufacturer designation (Ju) and the model (88) while the Americans included it (i.e., P-47, P-51)
Junkers AG described the aircraft as a twin-engine fast dive-bomber with Jumo 211 B/1 engines.
The 311-page manual is written for the maintenance personnel, not for the pilot (who should have its own manual), and includes a chapter for each aircraft system, except the engines (but it includes engine mounting, covers, and controls). The engines had their own manual.
Everyone who has been near the aeronautic industry realizes the complexity of an airplane. They are difficult to design, test, manufacture, operate, and service.
I find the image interesting for several reasons. It shows the two bomb bays of the 88: the forward one could store eighteen 50kg bombs and the rear one stored ten 50kg bombs. In place of bombs, the compartments could carry fuel (1220 L and 680 L respectively). Larger bombs could be fitted on hard points on the wings.
The image also shows the dive-brakes deployed (below the wings).
The dive breaks were behind and below the aircraft's center of gravity, so besides the increase in drag, they caused a nose-down momentum.
If uncorrected, the aircraft would continue pitching down at an ever-increasing angle.
Therefore, an instant after deployment, the elevator was trimmed automatically to compensate (pitch-up momentum) and the aircraft stabilized its dive to a specific angle (60 degrees max).
When the bombs-release button was pressed, the elevator trim increased slightly the pitch-up momentum and the bombs were released after the nose started to pitch up a bit to prevent the bombs from damaging the propellers.
The pilot then retracted the dive brakes, applied full throttle and the aircraft started to climb quickly since the elevator was still trimmed for a tail down (nose up) momentum.
.
Junkers AG described the aircraft as a twin-engine fast dive-bomber with Jumo 211 B/1 engines.
The 311-page manual is written for the maintenance personnel, not for the pilot (who should have its own manual), and includes a chapter for each aircraft system, except the engines (but it includes engine mounting, covers, and controls). The engines had their own manual.
Everyone who has been near the aeronautic industry realizes the complexity of an airplane. They are difficult to design, test, manufacture, operate, and service.
I find the image interesting for several reasons. It shows the two bomb bays of the 88: the forward one could store eighteen 50kg bombs and the rear one stored ten 50kg bombs. In place of bombs, the compartments could carry fuel (1220 L and 680 L respectively). Larger bombs could be fitted on hard points on the wings.
The image also shows the dive-brakes deployed (below the wings).
The dive breaks were behind and below the aircraft's center of gravity, so besides the increase in drag, they caused a nose-down momentum.
If uncorrected, the aircraft would continue pitching down at an ever-increasing angle.
Therefore, an instant after deployment, the elevator was trimmed automatically to compensate (pitch-up momentum) and the aircraft stabilized its dive to a specific angle (60 degrees max).
When the bombs-release button was pressed, the elevator trim increased slightly the pitch-up momentum and the bombs were released after the nose started to pitch up a bit to prevent the bombs from damaging the propellers.
The pilot then retracted the dive brakes, applied full throttle and the aircraft started to climb quickly since the elevator was still trimmed for a tail down (nose up) momentum.
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