Junkers Ju 52
Junkers · Germany · first flew 1932 · transport aircraft
The Junkers Ju 52/3m is the corrugated-skinned German trimotor that defined 1930s air transport and became the Luftwaffe's wartime transport mainstay, with examples still flying today.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 18.9 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Three radials, one in the nose plus one on each wing
- Corrugated, fluted metal skin over the whole airframe
- Low cantilever wing with fixed, spatted main undercarriage
The Ju 52 is instantly identifiable by its trio of radial engines and rippling corrugated aluminium skin, with a broad low wing and fixed, spatted landing gear. Angular and utilitarian, it looks every inch the rugged 1930s workhorse it was.
Specifications
- The Junkers Ju 52 has a length of 18.9 m (62 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 29.25 m (96 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 265 km/h (165 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Ju 52 began as a single-engine design in 1930 before the definitive three-engined Ju 52/3m flew in 1932, becoming Europe's premier interwar airliner and later the Luftwaffe's standard transport, affectionately 'Tante Ju'. Around 4,845 were built, including substantial post-war licence production by CASA in Spain and Amiot in France.
Variants
Civil airliner versions included the Ju 52/3mce and 3mge, while military models served as transports and improvised bombers. Post-war Spanish CASA 352 and French AAC.1 Toucan variants kept the type flying for decades.
Where you'll see it
British European Airways operated eleven ex-Luftwaffe Ju 52/3m machines in 1946 and 1947 on short-haul services. UK preserved examples are Spanish-built CASA 352Ls, one at the Kent Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge and another at the RAF Museum Cosford.
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