Junkers Ju 89
| Industry | Aerospace, Defense |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1895 |
| Headquarters | Dessau , Germany |
The Junkers Ju 89 was a heavy bomber designed for the Luftwaffe in the period preceding World War II. Only two prototypes were constructed before the initiative was discontinued. Nonetheless, its design elements impacted subsequent Junkers models.
Development
At the establishment of the Luftwaffe in 1933, General Walther Wever, serving as chief of staff, emphasized the importance of strategic bombing and championed the development of a Langstrecken-Grossbomber ("long-range heavy bomber"). Within the framework of the Ural bomber program, Wever engaged in confidential negotiations with key German manufacturers Dornier and Junkers, which led to the creation of the Dornier Do 19 and Junkers Ju 89 designs. In 1935, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) commissioned two prototypes along with a planned series of nine aircraft.
Although both projects demonstrated promising capabilities, they were terminated following Wever’s fatal accident in 1936. His successors—Albert Kesselring, Ernst Udet, and Hans Jeschonnek—redirected priorities toward smaller tactical aircraft optimized for supporting ground forces. Their preference leaned towards dive bombers such as the Ju 87 Stuka, focusing on close air support rather than strategic bombing missions. Kesselring reasoned that limited resources made tactical bombers more practical; roughly 2.5 tactical bombers could be produced with the same materials required for a single heavy bomber.
This shift in strategy received backing from Hermann Göring, who placed greater value on producing larger quantities of bombers instead of fewer large ones. While this approach aligned with early German successes in Blitzkrieg operations, it constrained the Luftwaffe’s strategic bombing effectiveness during pivotal engagements like the Battle of Britain and Operation Barbarossa.
First prototype
The initial Ju 89 prototype, designated D-AFIT (V1, c/n 4911), took its maiden flight on 11 April 1937 with Peter Hesselbach as pilot. Merely two and a half weeks later, on 29 April 1937, the RLM decided to halt further work on both the Ju 89 and Dornier Do 19 projects. The cancellation was influenced by concerns over heavy bombers’ excessive fuel consumption and a strategic preference for producing more medium bombers such as the Ju 88.
Second prototype
The second Ju 89 prototype, D-ALAT, was completed by Junkers in July 1937. Both prototypes underwent comprehensive flight testing to evaluate handling and stability characteristics of large aircraft; however, construction of a third prototype (V3) was abandoned following project termination.
On 4 June 1938, D-ALAT established a payload-to-altitude record by lifting 5,000 kg to an altitude of 9,312 m—approximately 4,000 m higher than a Short Stirling carrying an equivalent load. Four days later, it achieved an altitude of 7,242 m while carrying a payload of 10,000 kg. By late 1938, both prototypes were transferred to Luftwaffe service as heavy transport planes.
It is probable that both Ju 89 prototypes were dismantled by the end of 1939, although some accounts indicate limited operational use in Norway through 1940. During testing phases, Deutsche Luft Hansa expressed interest in modifying the design for commercial airline use, leading Junkers to convert the unfinished third prototype into what became the Ju 90.