Junkers G.38
Junkers · Germany · first flew 1929 · airliner
The Junkers G.38 was a revolutionary German all-metal airliner of 1929, remarkable for its enormously thick low wing in which some passenger seating was located, giving forward-facing cabin windows set into the wing leading edge. It was among the largest aircraft of its era and a showcase of Junkers' cantilever all-metal philosophy.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 23.21 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Enormous all-metal thick-wing airliner with passengers seated inside the wing roots
- Four engines along the leading edge of an exceptionally thick corrugated-metal wing
- One of the largest aircraft in the world when it first flew in 1929
Unmistakable: a massive low-wing monoplane with four engines ranged along the leading edge of an extraordinarily thick wing, passenger windows embedded in the wing root, and a relatively small fuselage by comparison with the huge wing.
Specifications
- The Junkers G.38 has a length of 23.21 m (76 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 44 m (144 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 225 km/h (140 mph).
- Typical crew: 7 crew, up to 34 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Only two G.38s were built, both operated by Lufthansa on prestige European routes. The aircraft caused a sensation with its sheer size and the novel experience of sitting inside the wing. One aircraft was later sold to Japan and operated by Dai Nippon Koku KK. Both aircraft were lost during World War II.
Variants
The Japanese example (designated Ki-20 by the Army) differed in minor equipment. Only two airframes were completed, precluding a true variant family.
Where you'll see it
Operated by Deutsche Lufthansa in Germany on Berlin routes from 1931; one example served in Japan until the early war years. Neither aircraft survived the war.
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