Junkers Ju 90

Ju 90
Ju 90 V1 Der Grosse Dessauer with Daimler-Benz DB 600C motors, 1937
General information
Type	Airliner, transport
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Junkers
Primary users	Deutsche Luft Hansa Luftwaffe
Number built	18
History
Introduction date	1938
First flight	28 August 1937
Developed from	Junkers Ju 89
Developed into	Junkers Ju 290

The Junkers Ju 90 was a four-engined airliner and transport aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Junkers.

Derived from the abortive Ju 89 strategic bomber, it was developed to be used as a long-distance commercial aircraft for the German flag carrier Deutsche Luft Hansa. It drew heavily upon the Ju 89, sharing the same wing and tail unit while adopting an all-new fuselage that could seat up to 40 passengers. In contrast to the corrugated skin traditionally used on Junkers aircraft, virtually all of the aircraft had a smooth duralumin covering. Various models of engines were used to power the type. Junkers' design team was headed by Ernst Zindel,^[1] and Professor Herbert Wagner.^[2]

On 28 August 1937, the first prototype performed its maiden flight; flight testing was undertaken in close collaboration with Deutsche Luft Hansa, who was sufficiently encouraged by the results to issue a production order. While the Ju 90 did enter limited service with the airline, the planned full scale passenger services envisioned were never enacted due to the outbreak of the Second World War. During the conflict, the civil Ju 90s were impressed into service with the Luftwaffe as military transports. They were active during the invasion of Norway and on the Eastern Front, where they were supplied the German 6th Army that was besieged at Stalingrad. Luftwaffe Ju 90s were also operated in the Mediterranean for a time.

Several Ju 90s were rebuilt into prototypes for the Ju 290, a larger transport and reconnaissance aircraft. Just two Ju 90s survived the conflict and were scrapped shortly thereafter.