Junkers Ju-52
From Scramble - The Aviation Magazine
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| Junkers Ju-52 | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Freight aircraft | |
| Crew | 2 pilots | |
| First Flight | 13 October 1930 | |
| Entered Service | 1933 | |
| Number built | 6 | |
| Manufacturer | Junkers | |
| Model EF30 (Junkers) | ||
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 18.50 m | ft in |
| Wingspan | 29.00 m | ft in |
| Height | 4.65 m | ft in |
| Wing area | m² | ft² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | kg | lb |
| Loaded | kg | lb |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 6600 kg | lb |
| Capacity | 2000 kg of freight | |
| Power plant | ||
| Engines | see production list | |
| Maximum speed | 195 km/h | mph |
| Operational range | 1500 km | miles |
| Service ceiling | 3800 m | ft |
| Rate of climb | m/min | ft/min |
Contents |
History
Although this single engined aircraft was only produced in very limited numbers, it gained fame for being the predecessor of the three-engined Junkers Ju-52/3m.
The Ju-52 was basically an enlarged version of the W33 and W34. Developed by Ernst Zindel at the Junkers works at Dessau, it retained the all metal fuselage with a corrugated skin of the former types. It was also fitted with the patented "Doppelflügeln"-wings, which allowed the type to take off loaded with 2000kg only needing a very short runway (what we call STOL nowadays). Because of this it also needed a rather sturdy undercarriage which could be replaced by floats when needed.
In German service it gained the nickname "Fliegender Möbelwagen" (or "flying removal van") because of its to contemporary standards large capacity of 20 m³ and two large cargo doors on both sides of the fuselage.
Production and Versions
- wn J4001; Was the prototype which first flew in October 1930 as D-1974. Equipped with one Junkers L88-V12-engine of 588 kW it was the designated as a Ju-52ba. Very soon the L88 engine was replaced by a BMW VIIau engine (507 kW) after which it was redesignated as a Ju-52be.
In June 1933 this aircraft was delivered to Luftfrako Air Express GmbH, but this company was not very satisfied with the performance so returned it to the manufacturer in July of the same year.
Became the D-UZYP with Luftdienst GmbH in 1937. - wn J4002; As a result of the inferior performance of the first prototype the wings and the tail were redesigned, but the BMW VIIau-engine remained. This sub-version was designated Ju-52ce. For test purposes, wn 4002 was later also fitted with a Jumo 4-dieselengine, becoming a Ju-52do. It was first registered as D-2133, later D-USUS.
- wn J4003; Ju-52ce (with BMW VIIau). Was delivered to a gliding club as D-USON.
- wn J4004; Ju-52ce (with BMW VIIau). Registered as D-2317 and delivered to the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule, but was flown to Sweden in 1932, where it became the SE-ADM with AB Flygindustri who rebuild it as a torpedo-bomber. After returning to Germany (becoming D-2317 again) it was put on tests -as the Junkers K45c- although it was pretty obvious the type was not suitable for this task. Later re-registered to D-UBES.
- wn J4005; Equipped with the BMW IXau-engine (of 588 kW). Was delivered as D-2356 in February 1932 to the Reichsverband der deutschen Luftfahrtindustrie (the "German National Association for the Aviation Industry") at Staaken (near Berlin) where it was put on test. But because of an engine fire it was completely destroyed already in May of the same year.
- wn J4006; First fitted with the BMW VIIau (so being a Ju-52ce), it was very soon equipped with the Armstrong-Siddeley Leopard-engine (551 kW), designated as Ju-52ci, and as such delivered to Canadian Airways Ltd as CF-ARM. In 1936 the aircraft was retrofitted with the Rolls-Royce Bussard-engine of 606 kW/830 hp. Equipped with floats it operated out of the Brandon Avenue base along the Red River with Canadian Airways until 1942 when it was handed over to Canadian Pacific Airlines who kept operating it until 1947. In Canadian service the aircraft was also known as the Flying Boxcar.
- wn 4007; Build as a Ju-52/1m, but still at the production line it was rebuild as the Ju-52/3m-prototype.
- wn J4008/4011; four Ju-52/1m's were already on the production line but were completed as Ju-52/3m's.
Notes
- During the Second World War, surviving Ju-52/1m's in Germany were used by the Luftwaffe as target towing aircraft.
- After the Ju-52/3m was introduced, the survivors of the single engined version were renamed as Ju-52/1mxx, eg the Ju-52ce becoming a Ju-52/1mce.
- The wn, or "Werknummer" (literally "worknumber"), is the German equivalent of the Construction Number or Manufacturer Serial Number).
Survivors
No original single-engined Ju-52s are known to exist anymore, but the Western Canada Aviation Museum in Winnipeg, MB, has a rebuild CASA352L (a three-engined Ju-52 build under licence in Spain) on display, representing CF-ARM. Part of the display though is an original float and the original Bussard-engine of the CF-ARM.
Images
More information
External links
- Junkers Ju 52 - Wikipedia
- Junkers Ju 52-1m - Wikipedia.
- Western Canada Aviation Museum.
- Hugo Junkers Homepage (including production list)
