Junkers Ju-88 history and specifications

At a Glance:
Engine: 2 x Jumo 211B-1.
Power: 1,200 HP
Armament:
• 1 x 7.9 mm (MG 81): front.
• 1 x 7.9 mm (MG 81Z): bottom.
• 2 x 7.9 mm (MG 81): top.
• Up to 1,000 kg of bombs.

Advantages:
• Good flight performance;
• High maneuverability and good armament;
• Multifunctional;
• Excellent cockpit visibility;
• Dive autopilot.

Disadvantages:
• Insufficient defensive armament;
• Entire crew sharing small quarters makes them easy to disable.
(Ju-88 continued)

Using the Dive Sight in Ubisoft's IL2 Flight Simulator:
• The Ju-88 is equipped with the Stuvi dive sight. Before the dive you must set your dive airspeed (true) with the “Increase Sight Velocity” and “Decrease Sight Velocity” keys, and bomb drop altitude with the “Increase Sight Altitude” and “Decrease Sight Altitude” keys.
• These are the actual instructions from the historical Fl Üb 8-179/4 manual.
(Traditional method with "Dive Automation")
• 1. Close radiator.
• 2. Set propeller pitch to 100% (Auto).
• 3. Set bombsight speed to estimated drop speed (can be adjusted during dive).
• 4. Set bombsight altitude (for example 1000m).
• 5. Center trim (on Ju88 red marks).
• 6. Extend the dive brake (this will also trim plane to dive).
• 7. Set power to idle (0%).
• 8. Take aim with ring in top part of the sight. Also take note of the dive bombing marker ("Krawatte") below the ring on the vertical line.
• 9. Hold target in the ring until you hear the drop altitude warning buzzer.
• 10. Pull up so that the dive bombing marker becomes superimposed on the target. Hold steady for a moment.
• 11. Press the bomb release button (this will also initiate the pull-out by centering the trim again).
• 12. Press the dive-brake button again to raise the brakes up.
• 13. Apply power slowly to avoid overspeeding the engines.
• 14. Open the radiator and adjust prop pitch for cruise, if necessary.

Using the Level Sight:
• The level bomb sight will automatically calculate the bomb trajectory and impact point based on the aircraft’s current airspeed and altitude. The bombardier must enter these parameters into the sight manually, and point it at the target. Then the sight will automatically track the target, and drop the bombs automatically at the right time.
• As the first step, bombing altitude and aircraft speed must be entered into the bombsight. The actual altitude above target (not above sea level) can be entered using the Increase Bombsight Altitude and Decrease Bombsight Altitude keys. The plane speed is entered using the Increase Bombsight Velocity and Decrease Bombsight Velocity keys. Note that the true (not indicated) airspeed must be set. It can be obtained from the speed gauge when in No-Cockpit View mode.
• After the initial parameters are entered, the bombardier has to acquire the target with the bombsight crosshair. Tap the Toggle Gunsight key (Shift-F1 by default) to look through the optics. Use Increase Bombsight Distance and Decrease Bombsight Distance to adjust the bombsight viewing angle up, and scan the horizon for the mission target.
• If the target does not appear along the centerline of the bomb sight optics, make minute changes to your plane’s course. Then using the Increase Bombsight Distance and Decrease Bombsight Distance keys place the crosshair on target. With the target dead center, turn on the targeting computer using the Toggle Bombsight Automation key. The bombsight will begin tracking the target. Correct the crosshair movement with the Increase Bombsight Velocity and Decrease Bombsight Velocity keys if necessary.
• The bombs will drop automatically when the plane reaches the proper position for a bomb drop, based on the input parameters and the optics angle.
• Note that after starting the bomb run, a plane may not be banked more than 4.5 degrees or the bombsight will lose stability. Only slight adjustments in direction are allowed. After more substantial maneuvers the bomb sight may take up to 30 seconds to stabilize. During the stabilization phase, the bomb sight crosshairs are turned off.