Junkers Ju 322

The Junkers Ju 322 " Mammut" was a non-motorized gliders. The first flight took place on 12 March 1941.

This gigantic aircraft was developed for use on the planned airborne operation in the Operation Sea Lion, the invasion of England. It was the competition pattern for Messerschmitt Me 321 main demands were the transport of a Panzer IV or a 88-mm anti-aircraft guns, including a tractor.

Unlike Messerschmitt received the aircraft manufacturer Junkers - the pioneer of metal aircraft - from the Air Ministry commissioned the machine to design in wood. The design was carried out by the engineer Paul J. Hall, who had been working for the Raab - Katzenstein - Flugzeugwerke GmbH, and then for the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke and Gerhard Fieseler works to 1929. According to the Junker 's concept of a thick wing was chosen, which was complemented by a rear tail boom. The machine resembled in its interpretation of the Junkers G38.

In the hold up to 140 soldiers could be transported in full equipment or 16,000 kilograms of cargo.

For the start of a take-off car was provided to land the machine on runners. Flight tests using a specially equipped Junkers Ju 90 showed instability in all axes, so the towing test had to be aborted. Then ballast tanks were installed and made ​​changes to the tail to improve stability.

In the second flight (after the modifications that failed to provide substantial improvements in flight characteristics ) collided with two of the three Messerschmitt Bf 110, which should be the " mammoth " in Troika tow haul, with each other and crashed. The Ju 322 was forced to land near Merseburg and went to break. Further work in this type were set then.

The already in series production aircraft were scrapped. At this time, the planned invasion of England was already canceled.

Specifications

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