Ju 87 D-5: The Legend Dives In

A steep dive, a precise strike — the most recognizable "Stuka" of the Luftwaffe is arriving in Aces of Thunder. The Ju 87 D-5 will appear in the game in one of the upcoming updates as new DLC!

The Ju 87 D-5 in Battle

This is a classic dive bomber: climb high, enter a steep dive, and land your bomb dead on target. Don't forget the air brake — it makes controlling your bomb release in a dive much safer and reduces the risk of catching flutter. The arsenal offers a wide selection of weaponry for any task: from 50 kg SC50JA bombs to the 500 kg armor-piercing PC500, capable of punching through a ship's deck. The Flam C 250 and Flam C 500 incendiary bombs will wipe out light targets such as artillery. And if you want more firepower, take underwing gun pods: two with 20 mm MG 151 cannons (four barrels) or two with 7.92 mm MG 81 machine guns (twelve barrels!).

But don't write off the Stuka after it has dropped its bombs — this aircraft, with its unmistakable inverted gull wings and fixed, spatted landing gear, became one of the most feared silhouettes of the war, from the Battle of Britain to the Eastern Front. With gun pods equipped, the D-5 is dangerous in the air as well: a careless fighter that has bled its energy in the heat of a dogfight risks catching a devastating salvo. And your six is covered by a strong rear gunner — his bursts not only fend off pursuers but also warn the pilot: danger behind, time to break off.

In the Spotlight: The Cockpit

We've created a brand-new, highly detailed cockpit for the Ju 87 D-5 — one of the most beautiful in the game. Like other aircraft in Aces of Thunder, the Stuka can be controlled in VR with your own hands: interact with the stick, throttle, flaps, landing gear, air brake, and trim. With full engine controls enabled, you also get control over the water and oil radiator shutters.

Camouflages

In addition to the standard livery, two historical camouflages are available for the Ju 87 D-5: a winter camouflage and the camouflage of Stab III./SG 1 (Vitebsk, March 1944). Each is unlocked by completing a task to destroy a certain number of ground vehicles.

This is just one of the new additions coming in the update — we'll tell you about the others very soon. See you in the skies!