Junkers J 3
Junkers & Co. · Germany · never flew (project 1917) · fighter
The Junkers J 3 was an all-metal single-seat experimental fighter designed by Otto Mader. It was never completed, and work stopped on the half-built prototype in October 1916.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Three-section wing with the centre section built into the fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Metal tube framework clad in corrugated duralumin sheet
- Three-section wing with the centre section built into the fuselage
- Single-seat layout with an Oberursel U.III rotary engine in the nose
Known mostly from the incomplete airframe preserved at the Junkers display in Dessau. It shows corrugated duralumin skin over a tubular frame.
Specifications
- The Junkers J 3 has a length of 7.7 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 190 km/h (118 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Hugo Junkers commissioned the J 3 in April 1916 to prove that all-metal construction was light enough for a fighter. It was built entirely at Junkers' own expense, using duralumin to cut weight by about a third. Lack of funds and the urgent order for the J 4 forced work to stop.
Variants
Two versions were planned, the single-seat J 3-I fighter and the two-seat J 3-II ground-attack aircraft. Neither was completed.
Where you'll see it
It never flew and never entered service. Its riveted construction, ball-screw wing joints and corrugated sheet became features of later Junkers aircraft.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.