Junkers-Larsen JL-6
Junkers/Junkers-Larsen · Germany · first flew 1920 · transport aircraft
The Junkers-Larsen JL-6 was an American designation for Junkers F 13 aircraft assembled or modified in the United States by the Larsen company, representing some of the first all-metal commercial airliners to operate in North America.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| 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:
- All-metal corrugated-skin Junkers construction
- Low-wing cantilever monoplane airliner of the early 1920s
- US-assembled version of the Junkers F 13
Distinctive corrugated duralumin skin, low cantilever wing, fully enclosed four-passenger cabin—radical for its era—with a single piston engine in the nose.
Specifications
- The Junkers-Larsen JL-6 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.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Hugo Junkers' F 13 was a revolutionary all-metal low-wing monoplane first flown in 1919; a number were imported or assembled in the USA through an arrangement with John M. Larsen, who held US distribution rights. These aircraft operated on early US airmail and passenger routes in the early 1920s. The US Post Office used JL-6 aircraft briefly before accidents and the distinctive but unfamiliar Junkers construction led to their withdrawal.
Variants
The JL-6 is effectively the F 13 in American service; minor differences relate to engines fitted and US-spec equipment.
Where you'll see it
Operated briefly by the United States Post Office Department on airmail routes around 1920–1921 before being retired following a series of incidents.
Related aircraft
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