Dimensions included an overall length of 94 feet, a wingspan of 137.9 feet, and a height of 22.4 feet. Empty weight was 53,000lb and MTOW reached 99,150lb.
Internally, a crew of nine was typically carried though this could depend entirely on battlefield role. As a bomber, the frame could support up to 6,600lb of drop stores and, eventually, three of the "Fritz X" or Henschel Hs 293 radio-guided air-launched missiles. When equipped, the radar fit was the FiG 200 "Hohentwiel" series unit.
For self-defense, the aircraft could carry a collection of machine guns and cannon. The typical configuration involved 2 x 20mm MG151/20 or MG151/15 automatic cannons in dorsal turrets, 2 x 20mm MG151/20 cannons at beam/waist positions (one cannon per fuselage side), 1 x 20mm or 30mm automatic cannon in a forward ventral gondola, 2 x 13mm MG131 Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs) in rear ventral gondola, and 1 x 20mm MG151/20 automatic cannon at the tail. Theoretically, this left the bomber well-defended against intercepting fighters fielded by the enemy.
In wartime service, the aircraft was pressed into action as soon as it became available - such was the situation for Germany in 1942-1943. The series performed admirably considering the circumstances and its versatility shown through the various roles it was pressed into. In the post-war world, the Ju 290 managed an extended service life though limited by the numbers available. One example, having been interned during the war by Spain, was used by the Spanish Air Force for a time until it could no longer be supported by the service (this occurring around May 1957). Czechoslovakia held a single Ju 290 which was converted to airliner form but not used as such. The Americans evaluated at least three examples after the war while a Ju 290 A-5 variant was captured in Tripoli, Greece by advancing Allied forces, evaluated by the British Royal Air Force (RAF), and ultimately left in Greek possession post-war.
Like other German aircraft, the Ju 290 was briefly considered for a "Zwilling" ("twin") modification which intended to pair two Ju 290 airframes by way of a shared midplane section - producing an extremely-long-range platform for reconnaissance / bombing work complete with eight total engines between them. In addition to this, the Messerschmitt Me 328 was to be carried as a point-defense "parasite" fighter though the ambitious project never materialized beyond the paper stage. The mammoth Ju 390 offshoot was a six-engined heavy bomber form, a direct development of the Ju 290, and intended for Hitler's "Amerika Bomber" program. Two Ju 390s were built but only one flown before the war came to a close.
No Ju 290 aircraft survived as museum showpieces.
Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
