Junkers Ju 87R-4 Stuka

Junkers Ju 87R-4 Stuka (the “R” in this variant referring to Reichweite - basically referring to operational range). From what I have seen, the bulk of this particular aircraft rebuilld is Werk Nr. 0875709 built in 1941 and first served with Lehrgeschwader 1 (Demonstration Wing 1), and then with Sturzkampfgeschwader 5 (1./St.G 5, Dive Bomber Wing 5) with the markings of Stammkennzeichen LI+KU in northwestern Russia near the Finnish border. In April 1942, it was shot down by Soviet fighters while on a mission at Murmansk and crashed in a wilderness west of the city. There it lay until the early 1990s when a private collector recovered it and had it shipped to England. In 1997, it was acquired by the Deutsches Technikmuseum in Berlin. Paul Allen’s Vulcan Warbirds, Inc. acquired it in 2010 and began a rebuild process in 2013 using the bulk of that aircraft as well as parts of another (I have not determined which one) as well as newly manufactured wings. It is now at Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum on Paine Field in Everett, Washington, where it is on display during the rest of the rebuild and it will be made airworthy and as such, should be the only airworthy Stuka in the world, and as of November 2018, I understand it will be 1.5 years until the rebuild being now finished in-house is completed with a Jumo engine.

[@MAZAKMAL2]

Looking good. It is nice to see another iconic WW2 plane getting some TLC. Good work, I have only ever seen seen the one in the RAF museum.

[@Dontwlookatthis]

It is so amazing that so many hopeless wrecks from the WW2 period are recovered and put back together with new parts to make them airworthy or at least in static display! This one is really exciting. As a kid in the early 60s, I built several models of these and still find them very interesting. A few I see as kind of an art object, especially the Spitfire and this Stuka, and if a manmade object created for war purposes can be considered beautiful once that war is over, so be it.

[@FiveCentsPlease]

+Cliff Leverette This museum also has the world's only Fw-189 but the project seems to have been on hold for 15-20 years or so.

[@me109g4]

Very impressive,, well done to all. cant wait to see it fly.

[@wvbygraceofgod5508]

I can’t wait to see it done. I always wondered if I would ever see a real Stuka in the air and now someone is finally building it. Now all we need is a airworthy Val and what I hear they’re building that one in Chino, California. Great times we’re living in relating to WW2 preservation. Everyone keep up the good work. Don’t let our history symbols fade away no matter what side, what country, or what conflict. That’s what puked me about the Confederate Civil War monuments being tore down. That’s history, no matter what conflict, what side, it all played a significant part on how we got to where we are today. Somewhere, someone though it was important enough to die for and people today don’t understand that. It’s a lot easier for some people to tear something down and say they’ve done something to be proud of. They don’t know the meaning of sacrifice. What if they decide to destroy all WW2 German planes, tanks, etc. If someone was offended by a statue, they’ll definitely be offended of a Swatstika on the side of a plane. It’s started, where will it stop?

[@rlr50]

Well put sir. Yes the Chino Val is coming along but needs funds.

[@dickiedick100]

Strange thought that a plane who has never fought in America is flying around there. Don't judge me wrong, because it is beautifull to see those WW2 planes flying ( Every 2 years we go with friends to Duxford, England to the flying legends show), but I will never come to America to see this bird flying. 😉

[@hoodoo2001]

The Val project has been talked about over 50 years. Don't hold your breath.

[@michaelnaisbitt1639]

The younger people of today are easily offended about everything I find that offensive in itself they have no idea about sacrifice and duty the young men who flew these planes in WW 2 brought to their countries

[@Edward2Fan47]

It would be awesome to see a fully operated Stuka built in Chino. It would be awesome to use it for filming.

[@mrwolsy3696]

I hope the Stuka is back on track, how on earth will they find a motor?

[@FiveCentsPlease]

+@mrowolsy3696 The engine is tested and ready. They found at somewhere around 10 or 11 engine cores from various collections to get enough useable parts.

[@brettlloyd4446]

All ww2 aircraft wrecks still out there need to be recovered and restored now!

[@FiveCentsPlease]

+Brett Lloyd Yes, or at least moved into museum protection to prevent theft and deterioration. Some cannot be touched because of local laws in the country where they rest.

[@sirboomsalot4902]

There are some completely intact G4M Bettys on some islands, but the local governments won’t allow them to be removed

[@dickiedick100]

As kid I was on vacation in Austria. After I had married and got children I was searching the internet and after finding out it was at the Stimmersee filled this in in the search column of Google. Then there came something out I never did expected. At this location Hans Ulrich Rudel spend his last days there. I recognised the name because s kid I had a comic book ( in this it wasn't ant comic at all) about a Stuka pilot..... and in that comic book the name was Rudel. Then I try to find out more about him..... strange feeling to be at the place were this man did lived. I asked the hotel owner if he knew who Rudel was, he answered positive. He knew this man as a supportive, but vainly ( I hope this is the right word) man. A story that belongs to this airplane. Rudel was an ace and hero for the Germans, a comic book person for me and the Stuka's was frightening my mother and father and a terrifying plane with that loud screaming sirene. After I saw your post this story came back again and I tried the internet search engine.... still the same internet page is online... So here the link that I found many years ago; www.pilotenbunker.de/Stuka/Rudel/rudel.htm

[@couteau86]

Just a question, exist a original manufacturer badge who prove that this is a Ju 87 R-4 and not a R-2? I mean, the R-4 is a ominous prototype who should be fitted with a Jumo 211 J. The problem on the story is, the Jumo 211 J was bigger (longer) then the Jumo 211 D of the B-series Ju 87 (where the R-2 based on) what had would required a complete new nose section similar to the nose section of a D-series Ju 87 ... the reason why i guess that this plane is a R-2 and not a R-4 ...

[@Purplexi]

I was born 9 years after WWII ended and always wanted to see a Ju87 Stuka fly(in peace time!). The most recognizable and terrifying air weapon of the early 20th century~I can hardly wait!!

[@fractrum7111]

Gosh, this is amazing. I never get bored whenever I have the blessing to visit that museum. And now they're fulfilling a dream that's shared by many aviation and warbird enthusiasts. So anyway, does anyone know the process of deciding what paint pattern a restored warbird is going to have? Do they redo the original scheme, or paint it in some other known pattern that was used on the model?

[@FiveCentsPlease]

+Factrum The color depends on who owns it and any surviving original paint, photo evidence, standard unit/squadron colors, etc. This museum will probably restore that Stuka to proper colors. If you look on the original wreckage you can see traces of the desert sand colors underneath. The example they are restoring was manufactured for North Africa and originally had desert colors but it was diverted to the Eastern Front and was repainted. So it is possible that this restoration will duplicate all layers of paint in the plane's history, finishing with Eastern Front colors or maybe winter white-wash. The markings and codes will be found on surviving Luftwaffe records for the aircraft serial number. Unfortunately this does not always happen, and I am thinking of a P-51 crash found in FL from a training accident. The P-51 wreck was dug out of a marsh and restored in tired colors for a well-known ace pilot and not in the colors painted on the original training P-51. This was heart-breaking for the niece of the pilot who died in the crash who wanted to remember her uncle in the plane that he flew.

[@neilestenson6595]

I hope it gets finished, Flying Heritage has announced it is not reopening after Covid-19. Paul Allen has to be shedding tears in his grave.

[@RandyMalmstrom]

indeed

[@flfun1684]

Stuka is awsome

[@terrystonitsch8223]

Great aircraft

[@fw1421]

I’m concerned that this incredible warbird won’t get finished now that the museum is closed down. I haven’t heard anything about it being reopened or how it’s going to survive now that Paul Allen has passed. The COVID-19 has really screwed everything up. It would be a crime if this amazing collection of aircraft were to be auctioned off and sold. It needs to be kept intact. And the Stuka finished.

[@RandyMalmstrom]

Don't know

[@FiveCentsPlease]

@@RandyMalmstrom In the least, the museum should secure funding to finish the Me-262 and the Stuka to completion if the collection has to be sold off. They were selling the Mig-29 and one would think that the sale would provide enough to finish those projects. (They were also working on a Fw-189, CASA 2.111, and possibly a Ju-88.) Vulcan Inc. is a monster with diversified assets and they are worth billions, so I think they could fund the museum if they wanted to. I think closing it is against Paul Allen's wishes and there were some rumors that his sister doesn't really give a flip about the museum.

[@michaelthomas7178]

Will it ever fly again?

[@RandyMalmstrom]

Yes

[@fw1421]

It’s January 2021 and I’m wondering how much farther along they are?

[@RandyMalmstrom]

I’d say no change

[@FiveCentsPlease]

+ fw1421 Everything at the museum is on hold for now. Gonna have to wait for news and updates, or if the museum is sold off.

[@fw1421]

@@FiveCentsPlease I hope the museum isn’t sold,it’s such a wonderful place. I wonder if Paul Allen’s family cares about preserving aviation history?

[@davidlawrencebanks4610]

Shame it's all for nothing. Run out of money to complete it, as happens sooooo many times. Great energy and enthusiasm but no monies no restoration

[@FiveCentsPlease]

@@davidlawrencebanks4610 Vulcan Inc is not out of money, they have billions. But priorities and funding were shifting around a bit after Paul Allen's death. His estate and last wishes were to fund the museum. I say wait and see how it shakes out.

[@TagW110]

When I see these rare machines I always must ask whether the owners, you, will commit to the limited handling it is due, given its profoundly rare status. We've lost too many irreplaceable airframes (Black 6, the Kee-Bird Superfortress, the last remaining He-111, Liberty Bell B17, on and on.) not to learn to place preservation and caution over romanticism. Until more are restored, I would wish only that this amazing piece of history be restored for engine run-ups only and static display. Preservation for the future, not performance must be the focus.

[@martingarcia-xe2ni]

Excelente!!

[@larrypacman8511]

What a strange music. Just To know for wich reason ? Thanks for this video

[@RandyMalmstrom]

No idea. It’s just what the museum had on their loudspeakers

[@rk3000100]

with such a gag, the German pilots killed Polish women and children on Polish soil during the Second World War

[@edsonfontanelli8158]

Vamos ressuscitar a Heinkel !

[@bobadams179]

So... When do you think it will fly again?

[@RandyMalmstrom]

Bob Adams 18 months or so

[@FiveCentsPlease]

+Bob Adams The new prop has been sent to California where the engine was being restored so that engine testing can begin. I am hoping the museum will allow a few videos of the engine testing to be published. I think when the engine is mated the plane will really start to come together. The electrics and avionics are being prepared by outside vendors for the museum. so they will be needed to finish the aircraft.

[@bobadams179]

@@FiveCentsPlease Will this be the only airworthy Stuka in the world?

[@FiveCentsPlease]

@@bobadams179 Yes, since WW2. A very difficult restoration due to lack of surviving wrecks to begin with and scattered and incomplete blueprints. I am hoping this restoration will fill in some missing information and inspire other collectors to perhaps attempt to restore another example.

[@bobadams179]

@@FiveCentsPlease Thank you for the information. You all are doing great work preserving these war birds for future generations. Hopefully they will serve as a reminder of that time and history will not repeat itself. I hope to see the old girl flying someday soon.