Professor Hugo Junkers (1859-1935) became enthusiastically
interested in aircraft development and worked for
several aero-engine manufacturers. Convinced that allmetal
structure was the ultimate answer to successful aircraft
design, he produced the experimental J1
"Blechesel" (tin donkey) cantilever monoplane
G 31
which flew
on December 12,1915, giving unexpectedly stable performance.
Then teamed briefly with Anthony Fokker (see
Junkers-Fokker-Werke). Junkers Flugzeug Werke AG.
formed at Dessau April 24,1919, first concentrating on
all-metal civilian transports such as F13 four-passenger
monoplane (more than 350 built). In 1923 received concession
from Soviet government to build aircraft in old
Russo-Baltic factory at Fili, near Moscow; established
Swedish
Ju-52/3m
subsidiary, AB Flygindustri, near Malmo,
and formed Junkers Motorenbau GmbH for production of
aero engines. After death of Hugo Junkers the company
became state-owned and, amalgamating with the aeroengine
firm, became Junkers Flugzeug und Motorenwerke
AG in 1936, then the largest aviation company in the world.
For German rearmament program, Junkers built factories
in many other parts of Germany,
Ju-87
and in Czechoslovakia
and France.
Major types produced included G24 and G31 airliners
of 1925/1926: W33 and W34 cargo transports, used also
as trainers by Luftwaffe; the G38 "flying wing"of 1928
(prototype flew November 6,1929; production models carried
34 passengers plus seven crew). Some used as military
transports in early stages of Second World War. On
October 13,1930 came first
Ju-88
flight of famous Ju 52 cargo
transport. Three-engined Ju 52/3m based on latter used
in wide variety of roles before and during Second World
War, production totalling more than 4,850. Prewar production
continued with Ju 60 and Ju 160 airliners, Ju 86
bomber, transport and trainer, and Ju 87 dive-bomber in
many versions. Followed by Ju 88/188/388 family
Ju 90
of twin-engined
bombers. The Ju 90/290/390 family began as four-engined 38/40-seat airliners, converted as heavy
transport/reconnaissance types in Second World War.
Junkers was among first companies to produce military
jet aircraft; two prototypes of its Ju 287 with forwardswept
wings were captured by Russians in 1945. After
Second World War aircraft production ended, and with
absorption of small aero-engine plant by Messerschmitt group
in 1975, the Junkers name disappeared
entirely.
