JUNKERS Ju-87 VENTED FUEL CAP

The Junkers Ju-87 R1 had a fuel carrying capacity of 500 lt divided between two fuel tanks between the main and rear spars of the aircraft's anhedral wing sections of the port and starboard wings. A further supplementary 600 lt of fuel could also be carried in its two x 300 lt wing mounted drop tanks.

To prevent overloading when fully fuelled with drop tanks, the bomb load was often restricted to a single 150 kg carried in its under-fuselage dive bomber sling.

Later models such as the Ju-87 D were fitted with larger wings which allowed for two additional self-sealing outer wing tanks which along with the original inner wing tanks, increased its fuel capacity to 800 lt as well as the further two 300 lt drop tanks.

The enlarged wing area provided greater lift and better handling which enabled the D series to carry a full bomb load when equipped with drop tanks.

While the aircraft’s drop tanks were pressurised, the Ju 87’s wing tanks relied on their wing tank pumps to supply the Jumo 210E engine. If the fuel pumps failed, fuel could be manually pumped using a hand-pump on the fuel cock armature. 

It’s somewhat surprising that it took the Luftwaffe almost 10 months to retrofit the BF-109 with drop tanks like the Ju-87 with some aviation historians claiming that the Battle of Britain could have had a far different outcome had the Bf-109 escort fighters been equiped with long range drop tanks.

Having your escort fighters suddenly disappearing after only 5 min over Britain significantly increased Luftwaffe losses during the Battle. As a result, the Luftwaffe’s twin-engine fighter bombers had to take on escort duties in the absence of BF-109 fighter cover.

Manufactured by the German DBU Works, the central Cap cast markings read 'KRASTSTOFF' or 'FUEL' with the wording 'Beluftungsventil' or Ventilation Valve' in raised text around the cap at the base.

Made from an Electron magnesium, the German Deutche Benzin-Uhrin (DBU Works) produced two types of Fuel Caps, vented and unvented but used the same casting for each. 

Primary aircraft fuel tanks on both the Bf109, Focke-Wulf Fw190 and the Ju-87 required a ventilated fuel cap, so five small holes were drilled into the middle of the casting and a small spring loaded padded washer pressed into the recessed housing beneath.

Even though labeled as 'ventilated', fuel caps without the hole and valve modification had no ventilation and were installed at the top of the 300l aluminium drop tanks carried by  the Bf-109, Focke-Wulf Fw190 and the Ju-87. Secured by two 8mm studs which were screwed down over the cap's arm cutouts, drop tanks required air pressurisation to transfer the fuel up into the aircraft system and so, they featured the 'sealed' cap version as seen here.

Mounted on its 100 yr old Mango Wood stand with a highly detailed hand crafted and airbrushed model of the iconic German dive bomber, the Junkers Ju-87 and informative Fact Sheet, this would make an extraordinary and highly valued, original memento of Luftwaffe air power for any aviation enthusiast.

* Note that this Ju-87 Collectable is pictured with a 1/48 scale model rather than the standard detailed, but smaller 1/72 scale. Click on the 'Model Upgrade' option at the top of this page for the larger 1/48 scale.

This Ju-87 collectable comes complete with highly detailed 1/72 or super detailed 1/48 Scale Model, Mango Wood Stand & Plaque plus Printed Fact Sheet featuring photo of collectable on aircraft.

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