Junkers F.13
Junkers · Germany · first flew 1919 · transport aircraft
The Junkers F.13 was a landmark aircraft: the world's first purpose-built all-metal monoplane airliner, with a fully enclosed cabin for four passengers and a cantilever low wing of corrugated duralumin construction. It established the template for commercial aviation.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- World's first all-metal monoplane airliner
- Corrugated duralumin skin covering entire aircraft
- Cantilever low wing with no external bracing
Unmistakable corrugated metal skin on a low-wing monoplane with a single nose-mounted engine, a fully enclosed cabin, and the cantilever thick wing with no struts or wires.
Specifications
- The Junkers F.13 has a length of 9.6 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17.75 m (58 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 170 km/h (106 mph).
- Typical crew: 2, plus 4 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown on 25 June 1919, the F.13 entered service with Deutsche Luft-Reederei and soon spread to airlines across Europe, South America, and beyond. Over 320 were built and operated in more than 30 countries. Hugo Junkers's corrugated metal skin and cantilever wing construction influenced airliner design for the next two decades.
Variants
Numerous engine fits were applied over the F.13's long production run, including BMW, Mercedes, Junkers L5, and various radial engines; a modern reproduction flew in 2016.
Where you'll see it
Operated by numerous early airlines worldwide from 1920 into the 1930s; considered the most important airliner of the 1920s by many historians.
Related aircraft
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