Junkers Bremen (W 33)
Junkers · Germany · first flew 1926 · transport aircraft
The Junkers W 33 Bremen was a German single-engine all-metal cargo and mail aircraft that achieved fame as the first aircraft to complete a non-stop east-to-west transatlantic crossing. Its corrugated duralumin construction was a hallmark of Junkers design philosophy.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- All-metal corrugated-skin Junkers construction
- First east-to-west non-stop transatlantic flight 1928
- Low-wing monoplane with single radial engine
Identifiable by the characteristic corrugated metal skin, low-wing monoplane layout, single nose-mounted engine, and robust fixed undercarriage typical of interwar Junkers transports.
Specifications
- The Junkers Bremen (W 33) has a length of 10.5 m (34 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17.75 m (58 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 210 km/h (130 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The W 33 Bremen, flown by Köhl, von Hünefeld, and Fitzmaurice, departed Bremen on 12 April 1928 and landed on Greenly Island, Canada, completing the first successful non-stop westbound transatlantic flight after a 36.5-hour journey against prevailing winds.
Variants
The W 33 and the related W 34 differed primarily in engine type; both were used as freight and mail carriers by Lufthansa and exported to several operators worldwide.
Where you'll see it
W 33s served Lufthansa and other operators in utility transport and mail roles throughout the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Related aircraft
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