Junkers EF 126

Junkers · Germany · first flew 1946 · fighter

The Junkers EF 126 was a German jet-powered point-defence interceptor prototype developed in the final stages of World War II and tested postwar in the Soviet occupation zone. It was designed for rapid production and operation by minimally trained pilots.

Recognition (WEFT)

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

• German pulse-jet or turbojet powered point-defence interceptor prototype built postwar
• Single jet engine in fuselage, straight mid-wing, simple construction for rapid manufacture
• Designed for simple pilot conversion and short-endurance home defence interception

A very small, simple straight-wing jet fighter with a compact fuselage, minimal equipment, and clean lines dictated by emergency production requirements; smaller than most contemporaries and distinguished by its basic unrefined appearance.

Specifications

• The Junkers EF 126 has a length of 8.46 m (28 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 6.65 m (22 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 780 km/h (485 mph).
• Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed as part of Germany's late-war emergency fighter programmes, the EF 126 used a simple airframe around a single jet or pulse-jet engine. Completed examples were tested by Soviet authorities after the war as part of their exploitation of German aviation technology.

Variants

The EF 126 Elli was one of the proposed configurations; several design iterations were studied.

Where you'll see it

Never entered service; prototype examples were tested under Soviet supervision in Germany before the programme was terminated.

Related aircraft

• Junkers EF 127 Walli
• Junkers Ju 287
• Junkers Ju 388
• Junkers Ju 390
• Avia S-92
• Commonwealth CA-15
• Hughes XF-11
• Lavochkin La-150

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