Editing Junkers Ju 87 (section)

===Basic design (based on the B series)===
The Ju 87 was a single-engined all-metal [[cantilever]] [[monoplane]]. It had a fixed [[Landing gear|undercarriage]] and could carry a two-person crew. The main construction material was [[duralumin]], and the external coverings were made of duralumin sheeting. Parts that were required to be of strong construction, such as the [[Flap (aircraft)|wing flaps]], were made of [[Pantal]] (a German [[aluminium]] alloy containing titanium as a hardening element) and its components made of [[Elektron (alloy)|Elektron]]. Bolts and parts that were required to take heavy stress were made of steel.<ref name="Erfurth 2004, p. 48">{{harvnb|Erfurth|2004|p=48}}</ref>

The Ju 87 was fitted with detachable hatches and removable coverings to aid and ease maintenance and overhaul. The designers avoided [[welding]] parts wherever possible, preferring moulded and cast parts instead. Large airframe segments were interchangeable as a complete unit, which increased speed of repair.<ref name="Erfurth 2004, p. 48"/>

The airframe was also subdivided into sections to allow transport by road or rail. The wings were of standard Junkers double-wing construction. This gave the Ju 87 considerable advantage on take-off; even at a shallow angle, large lift forces were created through the [[aerofoil]], reducing take-off and landing runs.<ref name="Erfurth 2004, p. 48"/>

In accordance with the Aircraft Certification Centre for "Stress Group 5", the Ju 87 had reached the acceptable structural strength requirements for a dive bomber. It was able to withstand diving speeds of {{convert|600|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and a maximum level speed of {{convert|340|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} near ground level, and a flying weight of {{convert|4300|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. Performance in the diving attack was enhanced by the introduction of dive brakes under each wing, which allowed the Ju 87 to maintain a constant speed and allow the pilot to steady his aim. It also prevented the crew from suffering extreme [[g-force|g forces]] and high acceleration during "pull-out" from the dive.<ref name="Erfurth 2004, p. 48"/>

The fuselage had an oval cross-section and housed, in most examples, a [[Junkers Jumo 211]] [[Internal combustion engine cooling|water-cooled]] [[V engine#Inverted engines|inverted]] [[V12 engine#Later V12s in aviation|V-12 engine]]. The cockpit was protected from the engine by a firewall ahead of the wing centre section where the fuel tanks were located. At the rear of the cockpit, the bulkhead was covered by a [[canvas]] cover which could be breached by the crew in an emergency, enabling them to escape into the main fuselage. The canopy was split into two sections and joined by a strong welded steel frame. The canopy itself was made of [[Poly(methyl methacrylate)|Plexiglas]] and each compartment had its own "sliding hood" for the two crew members.<ref name="Erfurth 2004, p. 48"/>

The engine was mounted on two main support frames that were supported by two tubular [[strut]]s. The frame structure was triangulated and emanated from the fuselage. The main frames were bolted onto the engine's top quarter. In turn, the frames were attached to the firewall by [[universal joint]]s. The firewall itself was constructed from [[asbestos]] mesh with dural sheets on both sides. All conduits passing through had to be arranged so that no harmful gases could penetrate the cockpit.<ref name="Erfurth 2004, p. 50">{{harvnb|Erfurth|2004|p=50}}</ref>

The fuel system comprised two fuel tanks between the main (forward) and rear spars of the (inner) anhedral wing section of the port and starboard wings, each with {{convert|240|L|gal|adj=on}} capacity.<ref>{{harvnb|Green|1990|pp=438–439}}</ref> The tanks also had a predetermined limit which, if passed, would warn the pilot via a red warning light in the cockpit. The [[Fuel injection|fuel was injected]] via a pump from the tanks to the engine. Should this shut down, it could be pumped manually using a hand-pump on the fuel cock [[Armature (electrical engineering)|armature]].<ref name="Erfurth 2004, p. 50"/> The powerplant was cooled by a {{convert|10|L|gal|adj=on}}, ring-shaped aluminium water container situated between the propeller and engine. A further container of {{convert|20|L|gal|adj=on}} was positioned under the engine.<ref name="Erfurth 2004, p. 50"/>

The control surfaces operated in much the same way as other aircraft, with the exception of the innovative automatic pull-out system. Releasing the bomb initiated the pull-out, or automatic recovery and climb, upon the deflection of the dive brakes. The pilot could override the system by exerting significant force on the control column and taking manual control.<ref name="Erfurth 2004, p. 49">{{harvnb|Erfurth|2004|p=49}}</ref>

[[File:Junkers Ju87G-2 ‘494083 - RI+JK’ (33003385142).jpg|thumb|right|The RAF Museum's Ju 87, 2016, partially disassembled, showing the four attachment points for the outer wing section]]

The wing was the most unusual feature. It consisted of a single centre section and two outer sections, each installed using four universal joints. The centre section had a large negative [[dihedral (aircraft)|dihedral]] (anhedral) and the outer surfaces a positive dihedral. This created the [[Inverted gull wing|inverted gull, or "cranked", wing]] pattern along the leading edge. The shape of the wing improved the pilot's ground visibility and also allowed a shorter undercarriage height. The centre section protruded by only {{convert|3|m|ftin|abbr=on}} on either side.<ref name="Erfurth 2004, p. 49"/>

The offensive armament was two 7.92&nbsp;mm (.312&nbsp;in) [[MG 17 machine gun]]s fitted one in each wing outboard of undercarriage, operated by a mechanical [[pneumatics]] system from the pilot's control column. The rear gunner/radio operator operated one 7.92&nbsp;mm (.312&nbsp;in) [[MG 15 machine gun]] for defensive purposes.<ref name="Erfurth 2004, p. 48"/>

The engine and propeller had automatic controls, and an auto-trimmer made the aircraft tail-heavy as the pilot rolled over into his dive, lining up red lines at 60°, 75° or 80° on the cockpit side window with the horizon and aiming at the target with the sight of the fixed gun. The heavy bomb was swung down clear of the propeller on crutches prior to release.<ref>{{harvnb|Gunston|1984|p=122}}</ref>