Junkers Ju-52/3m

1932

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Junkers Ju-52/3m

Built in larger numbers than any other European transport aircraft before or since, this extremely robust machine combined exceptional qualities of payload, STOL and all-round utility that resulted in a very long active life. The original prototype (flown in May 1932) was a Ju 52 redesigned to be powered by three engines. Most early civil examples had the 447kW BMW Hornet engine, made under Pratt & Whitney licence; but the vast bulk of later sub-types had the derived engine known as the BMW 132, rated at 507-618kW.

Like the original single-engined Ju 52, the tri-motor transport had a structure wholly of light alloy with corrugated skin and a very large cantilever wing-with patented 'double wing' flaps and ailerons giving great lift at low airspeeds. The fixed landing gear was almost unbreakable and on a few examples had spats; float-seaplane and ski versions were not uncommon. In World War II the vast numbers of Luftwaffe transports (more than 90% of which were of this basic type) changed landing gear to suit the local terrain and climate.

The Ju 52/3m was by far the leading European civil airliner of the 1930s, seating 15 to 17 in single seats each side of the central aisle. It carried more than 75% of Luft-Hansa's Europe-wide traffic in the 1930s, the airline using at least 120. Exported civil models had Wasp, Hornet and Pegasus engines, and a small number in Germany had Jumo diesels. In 1935 the first 3mg3e bombers reached the Luftwaffe, with 1,500kg of bombs and MG 15 machine-guns in a dorsal cockpit and ventral 'dustbin'. In 1936 about half the total production (450) of this model were serving as transports or bombers with the Condor Legion in Spain.

Junkers Ju-52/3m

Total production of all models was about 4,845 on German account, 575 of which were completed before 1940. German plants then made a further 2,659, the rest comprising output by Amiot for the Luftwaffe. The latter was continued post-war by the AAC which delivered 400 by 1947 with the designation AAC.1. A further 170 were built by CASA in Spain. More than 3,500 served with the Luftwaffe, nearly all in the transport role with the popular names 'Tante Ju' (Auntie Ju) and 'Iron Annie'. The most-produced wartime types were the 3mg5e, 7e, 8e and 14e, though differences were confined to such features as armament, loading arrangements, autopilot, glider couplings and crew armour. There were several non-transport versions, such as the g6eMS with a degaussing ring for exploding mines. After 1945 BEA used a fleet on internal services and the Spanish T.2B version was not withdrawn until 1975. One of the last, with the Swiss Air Force, was still active in 1979.

Junkers Ju-52/3m

Specification 
 MODELJu-52/3mg3e
 CREW3
 PASSENGERS17
 ENGINE3 x BMW 132A-3, 541kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight10500 kg23149 lb
  Empty weight5720 kg12611 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan29.25 m96 ft 12 in
  Length18.90 m62 ft 0 in
  Height5.55 m18 ft 3 in
  Wing area110.50 m21189.41 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed275 km/h171 mph
  Ceiling5900 m19350 ft
  Range w/max.fuel1300 km808 miles

3-View 
Junkers Ju-52/3mA three-view drawing (1000 x 778)

Comments1-20 21-40
Dr. Erik Carlsen, San Diego, 15.03.2015 01:00

Great News, the Junkers Ju-52 Trimotor has just been released in 1 /18th scale. This is very big and impressive!

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Paul Scott, e-mail, 11.01.2015 17:13

A classic aircraft by any measure, indicative of the war, but strange nonetheless, with its three-engined layout and corrugated metal skin!

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Claire Coe, Bakersfield, CA., 24.01.2014 07:57

Hello Don,
You are mistaken my friend, today, Thursday I was at Porterville Airport which is 50 miles due north from Bakersfield and it has a 6,000 foot runway, NO TOWER, and you see a lot of different airplanes fly in there. Anyway today a Junkers JU-52 Trimotor landed and pulled up to the cafe. Out came a very striking Blonde who looked 65, wearing a black leather jumpsuit. As the local pilots gathered around we asked her name and she said ANNA KREISLING! We were in awe of this Three engined Junkers which by the way was white with snow camoflage on it, the three engines were painted black and it had superb Luftwaffe markings on it. Yes there was a cool swastika on the tail and a yellow band on the fuselage. Anyway four United States Air Force Generals came out of the plane with their staff and they loaded into four black Chevrolet SUV's and off they went. The Junkers JU-52 is still parked at Porterville Airport. We have warbirds pass through here all the time, so this is not that unusual. Don, this German Lady is real, and you can tell that she is someone important.

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don, e-mail, 03.01.2014 03:44

'Anna Kreisling' is not a real person, rather she seems to exist in the wet dreams of Neo-Nazi types.

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Jason Anderson Ch. 24 News, 12.05.2013 07:49

This last friday I was covering the Fire Bombers used near Riverside to put out the fires. My film crew then went to Porterville Airport to film the Firebombers that are based there. A Pristine old three engined aircraft flew in and I had my Channel 24 News Crew from Bakersfield film it. It was green and gray on top with three yellow engine cowlings on it! When it stopped we walked over and four people emerged from the plane. The pilot was an older lady who was very slender and tall with frost Blonde Hair and ice blue eyes, she seemed to be very alert and motioning for the fuel truck. I walked over and when I heard her name mentioned I did some checking on my computer. She flew in World War II and her name was Anna Kreisling. Anna took me on a quick tour of the plane. It had the original seats in it and you could gaze into the cockpit where the two people could fly the airplane. It was flying East to Las Vegas.

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Mark, e-mail, 20.09.2012 17:26

Junkers Ju 52



Το Junkers Ju 52 ήταν Γερμανικό επιβατικό αεροσκάφος κατασκευασμένο από την Γερμανική Εταιρεία Junkers. Άρχισε να κατασκευάζεται το 1931 και κατά τον Δεύτερο Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο τα περισσότερα από αυτά τα αεροσκάφη μετατράπηκαν σε στρατιωτικά μεταγωγικά. Φυσικά κατά τη διάρκεια του Πολέμου η παραγωγή τους συνεχίστηκε μέχρι το 1945, όπου και καταστράφηκαν οι εγκαταστάσεις της Εταιρείας από τους Συμμάχους.

Το 1933 ο Γερμανός μηχανικός και ιδρυτής της Εταιρείας Hugo Junkers, ήρθε σε διαμάχη με το Ναζιστικό Κόμμα, διότι οι Ναζί ήθελαν να καρπωθούν την Εταιρεία του. Τέθηκε σε κατ’ οίκον περιορισμό και του απαγορεύτηκε κάθε επαγγελματική δραστηριότητα, ενώ στο εργοστάσιό του συνεχιζόταν η παραγωγή αεροσκαφών. Πέθανε το 1935, όπου οι Ναζί κατόρθωσαν να πάρουν στα χέρια τους την Εταιρεία. Μέχρι την έναρξη του Πολέμου το Junkers Ju 52 αποτελούσε το κύριο μεταφορικό μέσον της Γερμανικής Lufthansa, με 190 περίπου αεροσκάφη.

Το Junkers Ju 52 είχε πλήρωμα δύο πιλότων και ενός ασυρματιστή και μπορούσε να μεταφέρει 15 επιβάτες. Έφερε τρείς κινητήρες της BMW μοντέλο 132T, ισχύος 720 ίππων έκαστος. Χαρακτηριστική ήταν η θέση των κινητήρων, δύο στα φτερά και ενός στο ρύγχος του αεροσκάφους, θέση που το έκανε διάσημο αλλά και αναγνωρίσιμο από κάθε παρατηρητή. Είχε μέγιστη ταχύτητα 265 km /h και αυτονομία που έφτανε τα 870 χιλιόμετρα. Όταν μετατράπηκε σε στρατιωτικό, μπορούσε να μεταφέρει 18 στρατιώτες με πλήρη εξάρτηση. Χρησιμοποιήθηκε ευρέως από τη Luftwaffe και μεταξύ των άλλων μετώπων πολέμησε και στη Μάχη της Κρήτης μεταφέροντας εφόδια και στρατιώτες.

Ένα Junkers Ju 52 με την ονομασία "Immelmann" αποτελούσε το προσωπικό αεροσκάφος του Χίτλερ από το 1932 έως το 1939, το οποίο οδηγούσε σχεδόν πάντα ο πιλότος Hans Baur. Το αεροσκάφος αυτό στα χρόνια του Πολέμου αντικαταστάθηκε από το ισχυρότερο τετρακινητήριο αεροσκάφος Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor.

Το Junkers Ju 52 ήταν δημοφιλές στους περισσότερους αερομεταφορείς όλου του κόσμου, τόσο πριν όσο και μετά τον Δεύτερο Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο. Του είχαν δώσει το προσωνύμιο “Tante Ju”, δηλαδή «η θεία Ju», πράγμα το οποίο δήλωνε την φιλικότητα και την αγάπη με την οποία το είχε περιβάλει ο κόσμος. Κατασκευάστηκαν περίπου 5.000 αεροσκάφη του τύπου αυτού και πάνω από 25 χώρες το χρησιμοποίησαν για πολιτικούς, αλλά και για στρατιωτικούς σκοπούς. Ανάμεσα σε αυτές και η Ελλάδα, όπου λίγο πριν την έναρξη του Πολέμου, η Ελληνική Εταιρία Εναερίων Συγκοινωνιών είχε στη κατοχή της τρία από αυτά τα αεροσκάφη.

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Barry, 10.08.2012 13:56

With reference to the purchase of the Ju52 /3m by the Swiss, this happened in 1939 and the three completed their flying operations in 1983! One was earmarked for preservation and still flys to this day. The majority of others flying in the world tend to be CASA built models from the post war period.

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Sune Knudsen, 14.02.2012 09:45

There are still 4 aircraft flying tours from Dόbendorf, Switzerland.
I hear them often

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me-163, 18.01.2012 04:13

try the book junkers ju-52 history i have it by ray wagner

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john jeffery, e-mail, 31.10.2011 18:41

can anybody recomend any books on the old ju52

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Peter Graviston, 02.10.2011 05:32

It has just been confirmed by Aviation Week and Space Technology Magazine that there is a Junkers JU-52 Trimotor at AREA 51 in Nevada. So what is an old Junkers doing at the most advanced airbase in the World??? Apparently the pilots there like Aviation History and flying the old stuff really is a thrill for them! The plane belongs to a German Lady test pilot, Anna Kreisling, two years in KG-200 and winner of the IRON Cross with Diamonds in 1944.

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zhaoman, 21.06.2011 06:58

like this one on it`s aniversiry and some people where affraid of it as it reminded them of the war.

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wlkriessmann, e-mail, 24.09.2010 02:16

Well. "die alte Tante JU" I took her of the ground over 100 times during my Well "die alte Tante Ju ! I must have taken her off the groud over 100 times during my yearse in the Luftwaffe, 1938 to 1945. First experience on July 20th 1939, at a two hr instrument flight from the airfield Straubing /Lower Bavaria-Pilot fist Lt. von Bechtolsheim ( Ju 52 -S13+D56 all the way to the last flight on Jan 12 th 1989(?) at San Francisco / .Cal ---- LH Ju 52 /D-AQUI Capt.Walter Eichhorn. The most reliable aircraf twlk

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wlkriessmann, e-mail, 24.09.2010 02:16

Well. "die alte Tante JU" I took her of the ground over 100 times during my Well "die alte Tante Ju ! I must have taken her off the groud over 100 times during my yearse in the Luftwaffe, 1938 to 1945. First experience on July 20th 1939, at a two hr instrument flight from the airfield Straubing /Lower Bavaria-Pilot fist Lt. von Bechtolsheim ( Ju 52 -S13+D56 all the way to the last flight on Jan 12 th 1989(?) at San Francisco / .Cal ---- LH Ju 52 /D-AQUI Capt.Walter Eichhorn. The most reliable aircraf twlk

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Timothy Zahn, 25.06.2010 11:06

Yesterday I was doing some photography here in Bern, Swizerland, it was a beautiful day and I happened to see Shania Twain. What was really interesting was who she was with! Very tan, two inches taller than Shania,frost blonde hair, eyes like blue ice, lean and atheletic, breasts like Shania, but she seemed more older, like someone from the ancient past. I followed them and took many pictures. Later I found out the name of the Lady, Anna Kreisling! She is teaching Shania Twain how to fly. Seeing Shania in Switzerland is normal, but Anna flew for KG200, and supposedly knew Hitler,Eva, and all the top NAZI leaders!She flew the Junkers Ju-52 at Stalingrad.

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Col. John Scranton USAF, 09.07.2010 10:07

I always get a kick out of Anna Kreisling, she is a real inspiration! Hell she is 92 years old and she still flies old airplanes,what is really funny is that she can afford to drive any car she wants, but her personal sports car is a glacier white 1972 MGB. She tells me it reminds her of flying in a Junkers JU-52 Trimotor! Old and the visibility is great!
Her deepest regret is not being allowed to fly the Junkers in the Spanish Civil War. Both Hitler and Heinrich Himmler wanted her to stay in Germany and she had to follow orders. She despised Stalin sending 1,000 Russian pilots to fly for the Republican RED Commie side in the Spanish Civil War. She was so happy Franco and Italy and Germany won this war and saved the people of Spain!

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LUIZCARLOS F. SOUZA, e-mail, 10.07.2010 21:00

The Junkers JU-52 have a important role in Brazilian Civilian Aviation.At 1936, they are the airplanes which begin the "Air-Brdge" betwwen Rio de Janeiro andd Sγo Paulo, the two major cities of Brazil. This sevice growth, increase the pasenger numbers, and today carry near 3 milion passengers pr year. The Air Bridge, was latter operated by ewin engined piston Douglas, Convairs and Scandias, later by Lockheed L188 Electras and currently are operated by Boeings 737, capable of take off and landing in 3.000 ft. runways.

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Ernst Kessler, 20.06.2010 02:16

Anna Kreisling the White Wolf of the Luftwaffe and the personal pilot of Heinrich Himmler in 1937 and 1938, he had four pilots that were available for him, not just Anna. She flew the Junkers Ju-52 at Stalingrad.
You can see a picture of her landing a JU-52 at Stalingrad on p.97 of MARTIN CAIDIN'S book THE SAGA OF IRON ANNIE.
This same picture was featured in Der Adler LUFTWAFFE.

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Barry, 25.11.2009 16:35

As a bomber this aircraft was most certainly armed as noted in the text, and illustrated in the colour profile and the 3 view drawing. As a transport it was less common but the dorsal gun was used from time to time.

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Paul Squires, e-mail, 25.09.2009 00:32

First of all, a question. can anyone tell me, was the aircraft armed in the 2nd world war? I seem to remember lufthansa flying a junkers aircraft like this one on it`s aniversiry and some people where affraid of it as it reminded them of the war.

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1-20 21-40

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