Junkers D.I
Junkers Flugzeugwerk · German Reich · first flew 1917 · fighter
The Junkers D.I was the world's first all-metal cantilever low-wing monoplane fighter to see operational service, introducing construction techniques that would define aviation for decades. Its corrugated duralumin skin was a Junkers hallmark.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Corrugated duralumin skin visible along fuselage and wing |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- World's first operational all-metal cantilever monoplane fighter
- Corrugated duralumin skin visible along fuselage and wing
- Thick-section low wing with no external bracing or struts
Unmistakable corrugated metal skin on a thick-section cantilever low wing; spatted fixed undercarriage and a rotary or inline engine in a close-fitting cowl distinguish it from all contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Junkers D.I has a length of 7.25 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.1 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 200 km/h (124 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed from the Junkers J 7 experimental prototype, the D.I entered limited German service in 1918 in the final months of World War I. Only around 40 were delivered before the Armistice, too few to influence the war's outcome. Nevertheless it represented a profound departure from fabric-covered biplane norms.
Variants
The sole production variant was the D.I; the earlier J 7 and J 9 were direct developmental predecessors sharing the same structural philosophy.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively by the German Air Service in 1918; no examples survived in airworthy condition, though static museum reproductions exist.
Related aircraft
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